Marlands is home to an incredibly talented young girl.
Roné de Vos (13), a Laerskool Witfield pupil, is set to travel to Orlando, Florida in the USA, to attend the International AMTC (Actors, Models and Talent for Christ) Shine Convention, in December.
The GCN caught up with the busy youngster to find out how she feels about acing her auditions and being chosen to attend the convention.
Roné was scouted for her talent in singing, dancing, acting and modelling.
She said: “I started singing when I was seven years old; I entered a talent show at school and won.”
From there she has gone from strength to strength and attends regular vocal lessons at Virtuoso Singing School, under the tutelage of Elize Weldhagen.
The deputy head girl of culture also loves to participate in athletics, hockey, netball, drama productions at school and eisteddfods.
In the East Rand Eisteddfod she was named section winner in two of her singing sections this year and, on Thursday, she was awarded the Conspirito Eisteddfod prize for two of her singing sections.
At the audition to attend the AMTC Shine Convention she could choose for which item/s she wanted to audition.
“I decided to audition for all four, namely singing, dancing, drama and modelling, and they chose me for all four,” said an excited Roné.
An American talent scout was the judge and Roné was thrilled when she received her formal invitation to attend the convention.
The convention is made up of about 30 different workshops, throughout the five days of the event, as well as various showcases, where the youngsters get to show off their talent.
“The American scout will recommend various showcases in which your child should participate to show off their talents,” said proud mom Alet.
“The talent scout chooses the children according to the American market and Roné has been trying to be accepted for about four years.
“This will be an experience she will never forget and when she comes back she would have gained experience and made new friends.
“This year the door has opened for her and we will be attending the event as a family.”
But this chance of a lifetime for Roné doesn’t come cheap and the family is trying to raise funds to pay for her convention costs.
“We are not worried about the money for our accommodation, but we need to make sure Roné can attend the convention and take part in all the showcases she wants to,” said Alet.
Roné will travel to Orlando with Alet, her father Stephen and brother Gerhard (16).
To raise funds for Roné, a golf day is planned for November 4 at ERPM Golf Club in Boksburg and the family is accepting donations from businesses and the public.
A percentage of the funds raised at the golf day will also be donated to Choc.
The family is due to leave on either December 23 or 25 and will return to South Africa on January 9, just in time for Roné to start her first year in high school, at Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen, in Boksburg.
Roné said that all her friends want her to take them with her and they keep telling her to enjoy it.
“I am saving all my pocket money so that I can buy presents for them,” she said.
She also wants to buy a charm for her own nomination bracelet, in whichever country she visits.
When Roné is not practising one of her many talents or sporting codes she likes to cook with her mom and spend time with her animals.
When she grows up, Roné wants to become both a singer and an actress and hopes to have her own television show one day.
She also wants to be on an episode of 7de Laan.
“At the moment first prize for us will be is she is picked to do a television commercial or something like that while we are over there,” said Alet.
Roné said: “I am so excited, it’s like this year doesn’t want to end.
“I just want to go to America.”
Alet said she and Stephen support their child 100 per cent, but also try to find a balance between all her activities and the fact that she just needs to be a child.
“She needs down time and to do things all her friends are doing, like going to the movies, etc.,” Alet said.
Roné is extremely optimistic about her future in the arts and is positive she will start to get roles.
To assist the family to help make Roné’s dreams come true contact Stephen on 082 557 6951.
