Ella’s California Dreaming

The proud mum of a talented young girl from Kentstown who has been chosen to take part in a major international performing arts competition in America says she believes her daughter was born to sing.

Ten year old Ella Kelly who according to her mother Anita "was singing before she could talk" has been accepted to be part of team Ireland in the World Championship of Performing Arts often dubbed the “Talent Olympics” for aspiring performers and entertainers in California next July.

Contestants from over 60 countries are expected to participate vying for prizes, cash and a total of half a million dollars in scholarships. Thousands of people around the world apply to participate every year with just a small group selected to make the journey to the U.S. Anita describes how there was great excitement when she got the news. She said:

"We were absolutely over the moon when we got the news. Ella didn't believe me until I showed her the email!

"Another part of it that Ella is probably even more excited about is that she gets to be part of the Disney parade. It's such an amazing opportunity even to build confidence regardless of where she comes in the competition.

"She recently auditioned for The Voice UK, she got through to the second round of auditions but she didn't get through, she was absolutely heartbroken. I saw an ad for The World Championships of Performing Arts and I had her video audition for The Voice and I just submitted it, I didn't even tell her because I didn't want her to get hurt again. I completely forgot about it and two weeks later I got the email to saying that they would be delighted to have Ella representing team Ireland."

Anita says that Ella showed an interest in performing from a young age. She added:

“From the moment Ella could talk and even before that she was singing, she has progressed over the years with vocal lessons / stage school and studio recording. When she was seven she got the role of Ariel and she performed that in The Draiocht Theatre in Blanchardstown. She got up in front of hundreds of people and just sang her heart out and I suppose that was the start of it then when I realised that she really had a talent and passion for music."

We can also look forward to Ella's Christmas single "Do you Hear What I Hear" coming out on December 3rd on spotify that she recorded in music producer Mark Cahill's studio.

As the talented youngster needs to cover her own costs in travelling to California next year, her mum has created a fundraising page and hopes to raise funds towards the 3000 required to go. Explaining she said:

"There will be quite a lot of costs involved in getting her there to represent Ireland, we will be doing fundraisers etc over the coming months, but it there is any way you can help, no matter how little, every bit helps”