Jade Jolene makes Seychelles proud with her voice |18 May 2017
‘For me, singing is the most natural thing in the world’
Only 15 years old, Jade Jolene from Seychelles achieved 4th place among one hundred children in an international singing contest, the Sanremo Junior Festival 2017, in the city of Sanremo in Northern Italy.
The contest was held for solo singers aged between six and 15 years old.
Jade performed the Disney classic ‘A Whole New World’ coming from the animated Disney film ‘Aladdin’.
She describes her experienced as being unforgettable, and which gave a much needed boost to her confidence to bring more of her abilities to the world.
“Singing with a 37-piece orchestra was a magical experience. I loved every moment of it, loved hearing those instruments around me; the violins behind me, the piano to my left and seeing the encouraging face and directions of the conductor Giancarlo de Lorenzo to my right,” she said with a stunning smile.
The competition is a well known global festival organised by ‘Societs Kismet srl’. The festival allows children with gifted voices to shine, and give importance to music and singing among the younger generation, putting them in touch with professionals in the music industry.
Seychelles was able to take part in such popular competition thanks to the help of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB). It was the President of the Festival, Paolo Alberti, who approached STB in Italy and offered Seychelles a chance to audition for this song competition. STB contacted the School of Music, who selected Jade as their best soloist singer under 15 years old.
STB saw in sponsoring the event a possibility to promote Seychelles in Italy.
Jade’s vocal skills is testament to her hard work and dedication to developing her voice under the fantastic tutelage of Mrs Lowlam who, as her vocal teacher, is currently preparing Jade for her Grade five ABRSM International Music Exam; this grade is equal to an IGCSE Grade. Jade is also the youngest member of the Seychelles National Choir.
“I have been singing for as long I can remember; at the age of four I was the youngest member of the ‘Seychelles Children’s National Choir’ under the supervision of Benett Accouche,” she says.
She hopes that other talented students will get the opportunity to showcase their talent in next year’s festival.
“I hope Seychelles will continue to send skilled students; it is a most rewarding experience and I will be happy to help anyway I can by passing on my experience to a new candidate for 2018. For me, singing is the most natural thing in the world. I've grown up with it and I know I've got that gift,” she says.
She also one day wants to sing with local artists such as the famous Patrick Victor, T-Trey and Isham.
Jade has got a powerful dream; she dreams of Broadway, to become a singer for musicals. She loves singing songs from famous musicals. Besides that she loves acting too…and with her skills and much more hard work, she might be able to reach the stars.
Every young student with a dream to succeed, Jade is the shining example to follow. At a very young age you can achieve everything with the proper guidance, along with support from friends, families and teachers.
Last but not least Jade would like to thank everyone at STB, especially Monette Rose, Pierre Joseph from the National Conservatoire of Performing Arts and Mrs Lowlam among others who have helped her during this journey.
