An aspiring Penticton musician singer/songwriter is lending her talents to help two local elementary schools.
Jessica Singleton, a Grade 11 student at Princess Margaret Secondary, is teaming up with Uplands and Carmi elementary schools for two evenings of entertainment and community building.
Singleton has been performing throughout the Okanagan since she was 12, singing the national anthem at Penticton Vees games as well as school musicals and at other venues including the Penticton Market, Gyro Park and Cleland Theatre.
She also fronts the jazz combo, “Sing ‘n Swing,” which has performed at a number of events, including at the 2017 Dream Festival and the 2017 Pentastic Jazz Festival, with an upcoming concert at the Dream Cafe on June 9.
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Singleton performs originals and covers of contemporary pop music, including songs by Lady Gaga, Adele, and Taylor Swift, as well as classics by the Beatles, Journey, Queen, Jann Arden and many other artists.
Planning to pursue a professional music career, Singleton, who plays the guitar and piano wanted to learn more about the practical aspects of putting on a professional concert and at the same time helping the community.
Both Carmi and Uplands took her up on the offer for the parent advisory committee fundraisers. Uplands is planning to use the money to fund a new sound system for its gym while Carmi will use the proceeds for school trips. To that end, 100 per cent of all proceeds will go to the schools.
The idea came during a conversation with her father when they were driving in the car one day.
“I was talking about ways I could get myself out there and he said: ‘what if you did some school concerts,’ and we developed the idea that way,” recalled Singleton. “It was, ‘oh wouldn’t it be cool if this happened’ and then it actually happened.
“I wanted to gain some experience in the business side of performing but I also genuinely want to help the lementary schoosl and raise some money for them.
“She is truly an inspiration for our students in that she’s only in high school,” said Uplands principal Andrea DeVito where Singleton did a mini concert for students Wednesday. “She has a dream, she has passion and she has initiative and a certain level of fearlessness and we wanted to support her in her journey and allow our students an opportunity to get to know her a little bit in that journey.
“Lets support this young aspiring performer and that’s what you’re looking for all the time is role models for our students and it’s such a win, win we couldn’t miss the opportunity.”
The concert for Uplands is being held at the Shatford Centre on April 26. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 6:30 p.m. The evening is being billed as a “parents night out.” Tickets are $10 and are available at the school office.
The concert for Carmi is a family event on April 27 at Carmi Elementary. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $2 and are available at the school office.
