Pursuing a dream

Rochelle teen set to audition for "The Voice"

Lori Hammelman
Posted 6/4/18

Singing has always been a passion for Kaylee Brown.

The 16-year-old Rochelle Township High School Junior is combining her passion and dreams as she prepares to audition for “The Voice” reality TV show this Saturday in Chicago.

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Pursuing a dream

Rochelle teen set to audition for "The Voice"

Posted

ROCHELLE — Singing has always been a passion for Kaylee Brown.

The 16-year-old Rochelle Township High School Junior is combining her passion and dreams as she prepares to audition for “The Voice” reality TV show this Saturday in Chicago.

For Brown, this is the first step in pursuing her dream of a music career. She explained auditioning for the show was a decision made a while ago and just recently found out there is an open call audition in Chicago.

“I thought why not? This is great opportunity, a great experience, and I have nothing to lose,” Brown said. “I asked Mom and she’s all for it.”

Brown is not new to the stage, although she has never auditioned for a show like this before. Brown is in the RTHS Midnight Voices vocal jazz music group, which is something she really enjoys. This past school year she has performed with the group in concerts and has traveled to different schools.

“I’ve been performing in front of people, getting used to that and knowing how to interact with each other on stage,” Brown said. “I think being in the group will help me with this audition…having that experience being in front of big crowds of people and knowing how to calm my nerves.”

Brown’s mom, Karla, will be accompanying her to Navy Pier in Chicago for the first round of auditions. Karla shares how proud she is of her daughter and how she has already tried out for Rochelle’s Got Talent as well as the Rochelle Middle School’s Talent Show.

“She was very comfortable in front of crowds and she got a lot of positive feedback from both,” Karla said. “I am so proud of her! She has a genetic skin condition, which sometimes holds her back from activities especially in the heat, but with singing she can get on stage and express herself through song.”

Adding, “She has even written some songs. My nephew loves to sing too and when Kaylee was younger they would write songs together and sing.”

Auditions

Saturday’s auditions are performed in front of the show’s producers. Select performers will then be invited to the next round for another audition in front of the producers, which is typically between one and three days later.

Television viewers first see the blind audition stage of the competition.

The TV show’s main concept focuses on singing quality and contestants who make it to the blind audition stage of the competition are judged purely on that. The show’s famous judges are seated in rotating chairs and only first hear the contestant’s voices. If the judges like what they hear, they press a button and their chair turns around. Many notice the words “I want you” emblazoned on the bottom of the chairs.

Brown’s first song choice is one by artist Bruno Mars, but is prepared to sing four more depending on if the judges need her to pick another song or different genre.

Brown shared her strategy she does on stage with Midnight Voices and plans to do during audition time should nerves flare up. But no matter what the end result is, she’s excited for the experience.

“I take deep breaths,” Brown said. “For the auditions on Saturday, I’m trying not to keep my hopes high just so I don’t get disappointed. I’m going there for the experience. I will keep telling myself that I’m here for the experience and if I don’t make it, it is OK. This is a great thing to go through and will further my knowledge of these things.”

Kaylee w MV WEB

Pictured above is Kaylee Brown, third from left, after a performance with Midnight Voices, RTHS Vocal Jazz Band group.