Prodigy Apparently Kills Himself at Age 14

OMAHA, Neb. – A musical prodigy who completed high school at age 10 apparently killed himself at 14, authorities said.

Brandenn E. Bremmer (search), who had studied piano improvisation at Colorado State University at Fort Collins, Colo., was found dead Tuesday at his home with a gunshot wound to the head, sheriff's officials said.

Brandenn began playing the piano at 3 and took his first high school class at 6. He was home-schooled through high school, completing his junior and senior years in seven months. At 11 he starting taking independent study classes at Colorado State (search).

He had taken courses during the spring and fall semesters of 2002, CSU spokeswoman Dell Rae Moellenberg said. He later took private lessons.

One of his professors at CSU, David Wohl (search), said Friday he was shocked to learn of Brandenn's apparent suicide.

Wohl, who last saw Brandenn in December, recalled him as an unpretentious young man who had an easy smile. "He wasn't just talented, he was just a really nice young man," Wohl said.

Brandenn's parents, Martin and Patricia, took turns driving him to Fort Collins for 90-minute sessions every other week last year, Wohl said. He said he believed Brandenn had stopped taking lessons because he was preparing to enter a college.

The Bremmers have an unlisted number and could not immediately be reached for comment.