WITH a voice made for the stage, it comes as no surprise that the vocally talented Charlie Engelbrecht is one of only a handful of performers who will jet off to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando to perform in front of hundreds of talent scouts.
I met her for a morning coffee at Sam Browns in Kloof, her dress sense is on trend, preferring a more casual look, hair down with a light hint of eyeliner to emphasise her icy blue eyes. She is slightly nervous but her warm smile reveals her hidden excitement.
She tells me it was during an on-stage performance, her first of many, at Hillcrest Primary School, that she fell in love with the arts.
Charlie belted out the gorgeous My Immortal by Evanescence while her brother, Daniel, played the piano alongside her.
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She was a bundle of nerves backstage, but when she walked out into the crowded hall with hundreds of eyes upon her, and the music started playing she felt at ease.
“I try not to focus on the crowd around me when I perform. I still get slightly nervous but I try to imagine myself singing in my room,” laughed Charlie.
She attended the RBT Music school for three years for singing and drumming lessons.
Two years ago she chose to focus on her singing and joined vocal coach, Tammy Saville, where she started to push her vocal boundaries, test new genres, learn breathing techniques and ways she could protect her voice.
The humble teen said there was always room for improvement when it came to her singing capabilities and looked forward to all she would learn during her trip to the States at the end of July.
The two-and-a-half week trip will consist of a two-day stay in New York City and just a little over a week at the ‘happiest place on Earth.’
Once there, Charlie will be surrounded by dozens of like-minded performers and receive tutelage from the some of the best of the best in the industry.
Her musical interests lie with country, musical theatre and ballads, especially those sung by her idol and vocal powerhouse, Adele. At the Applause Rising Talent Showcase, the Thomas More College learner will take on six performances which include singing, a TV commercial, a monologue, a film scene, photography and creative runway. Her song choice is one that is close to her heart, Piece By Piece, a melancholic song performed by American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson. Tears swim in her eyes as she reveals why this is her song choice.
“It describes how my life has been. It is a really sad song. Kelly’s dad walked away from her when she was young and my dad left us when I was six. The song is about how Kelly’s husband stepped in and helped put her back together. My story is that my step dad came into our lives and has helped us through everything.”
Even though she will be showcasing her talent in front of hundreds of talents scouts, Charlie will not let her nerves become her. Her eyes are dead-set on one goal, to make a name for herself in the world of performing arts. “This is my ticket to break into the industry,” said a determined Charlie. “This trip is about gaining experience, meeting with the top people in the industry, improve my abilities and making a lot of new friends along the journey. I am so excited!”
When not performing with the choir or acapella group at her school, Charlie can be found with her earphones firmly plugged in, losing herself in the copious number of playlists on her phone. “For every mood, I have a song. No matter how I feel, I find that I am always able to listen to music and feel at peace with everything. It gives me a chance to breathe.”
If you were stuck on a dessert island, who would you want with you?
My mom. She could definitely survive out in the middle of nowhere.
If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to go?
Thailand. I love the beach and the people are just so friendly.
What is your favourite animal?
Dogs. All dogs. I am definitely a dog person.
Your favourite meal?
Sushi. It is divine.
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