A YOUNG songstress is counting her blessings, as well as her pennies, after scoring a place in a prestigious international music competition.
Aimee Van Rensburg is off to the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in July.
The talented 14-year-old, who attends Botany Downs Secondary College, showcased her vocals and song-writing skills at the New Zealand National Performing Arts contest earlier this year.
Aimee competed in four different styles – original, rock, pop, and open – and collected three medals for her efforts.
She’s now excited but nervous about her trip to the United States.
“In the national [competition], my nerves were so wild,” says Aimee. “I just had to think to myself that I could do it and take some deep breaths to calm myself down before I performed.”
Plane flights and accommodation in the City of Angels will cost Aimee and her family about $6500.
The Year 10 student is looking for sponsorship from businesses to help fund the trip, and she plans to earn some money by busking outside a shopping mall.
She sings, can play drums and guitar, and is also part of a band called Running With Scissors.
“I’m the only girl and we all write the lyrics,” says Aimee, of Flat Bush. “You can give me an instrument and I can figure out how to play it.”
Soft rock and pop-punk are her favourite music genres and she’s a huge fan of US Christian band Paramore.
Proud mum Elmarie says Aimee “hummed” before she could talk and has been interested in music her whole life.
“She can be quite shy and reserved, but then you watch her and she changes [on stage],” says Elmarie.
“The stage is the one place that I can be myself and express how I feel,” agrees Aimee. “I don’t have anything to hide behind.”
If anyone would like to sponsor Aimee’s trip to the US, email aimeev2010@gmail.com
