The stage is where her heart is
This is the day and age of ruthless competition as far as the showbiz industry is concerned. There are reality shows and “mean” judges galore. But there are only a few who choose the hard way to success. Sixteen-year-old Annelies is one such person. All set to be the next British classical crossover superstar, her credentials include performing in front of 30,000 people (at the age of 7) alongside the likes of Charlotte Church and Blue. “I started singing very early at the age of around two. I appeared on a TV programme called My Kind Of People when I was three and a half. I sang Once upon a December from the Disney Musical Anastasia. I can’t remember doing this but it was in front of thousands of people,” she reminisces, in an email interview with this paper.
Born and raised in Wales, Annelies won a music scholarship at the age of 10 to the prestigious Cathedral School in Cardiff, that has Charlotte Church amongst their illustrious alumni. And just like the ever-popular Ms Church, this young girl was quick to display her precocious vocal ability, singing at every opportunity that arose. But the going wasn’t easy. Today, Annelies recalls the difficult time she had balancing studies with music. “I was a chorister at my old school and had choir practice every morning and evening. I had to give it up in my last year as I was studying for my General Certificates of Secondary Education (GCSEs),” she admits.
With such a schedule, wasn’t she tagged as a nerd? “I used to get bullied quite a bit. I went through an awful time but I think it has made me a stronger person for it,” she says.
Having performed at many venues and some big concert halls, are there any that have remained in her memory? Yes, comes the answer — the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Wembley Stadium in London. “This was in front of 75,000 fans where I sang the anthem. That was most memorable I think. Most recently I performed with Hayley Westenra,” she shares.
And does she intend to follow the musical path? Annelies’ dream is to be an “amazing recording artiste’’ and share her love of music with others. “I would also love to duet with Sarah Brightman and Michael Buble. I also love Lady Gaga at the moment, so maybe a classical version of one of her songs!” she says.
With Annelies’ success story adding more new chapters to her book of life by the day, she wants to share the driving force that keeps her going on with like-minded people.
And finally, her tips for those with dreams as big as hers?
“Life is full of ups and downs and you sometimes have to take the rough with the smooth, but this is what builds character and strength. Life is about having the perfect balance and some things in life you have more adoration for than others. My first love was always my singing, but I will always grow and continue to grow my other strengths as a fall-back,” she says.
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