Keely Crocker shines on the red carpet in NYC

Amanzimtoti song bird, Keely Crocker was excited to hear only a week before the Talent Africa SA team was leaving for New York to participate at the Talent America competition, that she would join them thanks to a last-minute sponsor.

“I heard the night before I was leaving on a school camp and I wasn’t allowed to say anything until I had confirmation,” said the Kingsway High School grade 9 pupil. “I was so excited, it was really hard not to shout it out to the world.”

When Keely returned from school camp, she only had four days to prepare and practise four songs, of which one was a brand new pop song which had to be edited and a backtrack cut for the competition, before leaving for the Big Apple.

“It was not an easy task to learn the words and the timing from scratch at such short notice, said the 15-year-old.

READ ALSO: Keely brings home gold

Keely did exceptionally well in New York, placing first in country and pop, and runner-up in R&B and third in inspirational for her age group.

“I was thrilled with my results, especially winning pop and country because it is a really big category in America. I would have loved to enter the singer/songwriter division, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to cut a new backtrack before I left.”

Keely gained invaluable experience in New York and had the wonderful privilege of attending a workshop at the New York Film Academy, where she hopes to fulfill her dream of studying after matric. “I definitely want to add acting to my singing resume”, she said.

Keely was thrilled to also attend a workshop with well-known vocal coach to the stars, Bob Marks whose students include Ariana Grande, Britney Spears, Nicky Minaj and many more famous artists, as well as about 90% of the Broadway musicals.

READ ALSO: See academic songbird on stage soon

She attended another great vocal session with Robert Iovanna and Karen Wagner-Iovanna of Pearl Studios, a classical tenor and vocal coach specialising in the Bel Canto method and a member of the Metropolitan Opera.

Keely also participated in a Broadway workshop, where she was taught a portion of the singing and dancing choreography of the world-famous ‘Wicked’ show by one of the lead actresses of the show, Hannah Shankman.

“I have fallen in love with Broadway. This has been an amazing experience and a fantastic opportunity that I will never forget.

I can’t thank my sponsors enough and my awesome Talent Africa family. I am so grateful and truly blessed,” said the excited teen.

The road doesn’t end in New York for this enthusiastic young performer, as she has been cast in the show ‘Footloose’, which will run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 7 to 17 September.

In October she will showcase her talent to scouts at the International Arts Talent Showcase which is being held in Johannesburg.