Local singer Ki-Juan Minors got an early Christmas present this year when he was given the chance to perform at the same holiday event as former American Idol top contender Kimberley Locke.

Mr Minors had the opportunity to perform at the 2013 Heritage Christmas Party in Croton Falls, New York last night after a good friend invited him to open up for Ms Locke. “And clearly I couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” he said.

The well-known equestrian said a lot of opportunities for singing have opened up through his connections in that world. He described the recent experience as “a milestone in my life” and proof “that hard work pays off”.

One of the best parts of the experience actually came after the event, when Ms Locke told her 22,183 Twitter followers about the Bermudian singer’s talent. “Ki-Juan Minors, you were great,” she wrote.

Mr Minors told The Royal Gazette: “Kimberley was such a humble and beautiful person. She told me I had an amazing voice and then tweeted about it.”

Ms Locke rose to fame in the 2003 American Idol television competition in which she placed third, behind winner Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken.