George Herald | Juan Appelgrein off to Florida USA for talent showcase

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Juan Appelgrein off to Florida USA for talent showcase
00:00 (GMT+2), Thu, 14 June 2012

Juan Appelgrein (14) is off to Orlando, Florida to join other talented people and hopefully come back with a recording contract from AMTC.

GEORGE NEWS - A South African talent scout was so taken by the gravelly voice of Juan Appelgrein, a fourteen-year-old, Outeniqua High School pupil, that he immediately selected him to participate in a talent show next month in July in Orlando, Florida, USA where talent scouts will be offering recording contracts to the best singers, actors and models.

Needless to say a lot is riding on this once-in-a lifetime opportunity and Ferdinand Gernandt, Talent Ambassador and Head Scout for South African Talent Championship (SATCH), will accompany ten students to the AMTC Talent Showcase. From 27 June to 9 July, aspiring actors, models and singers will be auditioned by AMTC (Actors Models and Talent for Christ). This international organisation (to which SATCH is affiliated) is a ministry movement that provides aspiring performers with professional direction, industry introductions, and spiritual encouragement.

It was his voice coach, Tashia Vermeulen of Tashia Song School who spotted his talent in the Blues, R&B and Pop genres and brought him to the attention of Gernandt. Teacher and pupil were hard at work this week, getting his voice projection pitch perfect for his US demo recording before his departure on 27 June.

To raise funds for the US trip Juan will be giving a variety show, during which local artists will be performing at the Kalahari Theatre on this coming Sunday 17 June at 15:00. Tickets will be sold for R60 for adults and R30 for children (and can be obtained from the Kalahari Restaurant directly or from Salon Savannah at 57 York Street, George).

The Outeniqua High School Divas - Jade Phillips en Zhané Myners, Winter Solace, Larry Richards, Chanté van der Westhuizen and Lourens Obermeyer of Glenwood High will all put their best foot forward.

Juan will be singing pop along with his own songs (with his own lyrics).

His excited mom, hairdresser Savannah Appelgrein said she was grateful to the Kalahari Theatre owner Attie Botha and manager Jay Jay who had gone out of their way to help her raise funds.