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 Gwen grew up with music. Her mother played the dulcimer, and sang in several bands. Her dad played guitar. She has very early memories of dancing in the living room to her parents’ records - notably Peter Gabriel, Level 42, and the Beatles. She began singing at around three years old when she would make up songs and have her mother tape-record them. Her first time performing on stage was at age six in the Twinsburg Youth Theatre, which she continued to participate in annually through grade school. In her last year with the community theatre at age sixteen she starred as Wendy in Peter Pan. Her parents encouraged her love for music and signed her up for piano lessons starting when she was eight, up through high school. Between fourth and seventh grade she played violin in the school orchestra, and clarinet in the band. Now able to read sheet music, she joined the choir in middle school and realized her love of singing. She participated in as many talent shows and competitions as possible, and even sang in an amateur band for a while, playing out a few times and writing her own material. She also joined the middle school show choir known as the R.B.C. Singers.
The R.B.C. singers, a youth singing/dancing ensemble, prepared her for the difficult audition for the Twinsburg High School Championship Show Choir, the “Great Expectations” directed at the time by Nancy Slife and Mitch Benko. She and three other students out of many to audition made the cut as freshman members. The Great Expectations, a group of about fifty students, travel all over the midwest to perform at prestigious competitions, making a statement wherever they go with tight harmonies, eye-catching choreography, and beautiful well-designed and high-energy shows. She performed with the group for all four of her high school years, was a featured soloist for three, and won several championships with the choir. Gwen’s participation in the show choir was her single most valuable school experience, during which she learned indispensable lessons not only about music and performing, but more importantly about teamwork, communication, and confidence.
Gwen grew more sure about pursuing music after graduation, and was one day presented with the opportunity to sing in for a talented show band with a full performance schedule and an established following. Now a member of The Girls Band, she is having a blast and doing what she loves, while going to school full time at Kent State, working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. Gwen hopes that this wonderful band will continue to help her grow as a performer, and open doors to her future of performing. She will never stop sharing her music with the world.
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 I was into music as early as I can remember. My dad had a huge vinyl collection which I listened to a lot and sang along. I remember using mothers' pots and pans as my own drums when I was little. Then in 3rd grade my music teacher Ms. Kunes from Center Street Elementary in Mentor, showed me actual percussion instruments and that was it for me. I just seemed to have a natural instinct to head towards the drums. I then started taking drum lessons with Buddy Braski at Arrowhead music in Mentor. I learned so much from him, he was a great jazz drummer. My first band started when I was around 13. A few friends of mine would start jamming in somebody's garage. We went on to play our talent show and after being on stage for the first time I was hooked. Throughout high school I always had a band going. At Mentor High School I was in the concert band, choir and marching band. I then started taking lessons from Larry Smith at the Willoughby Fine Arts Center. I learned so much from him and fine tuned my skills.
After high school I attended Lakeland Community College and met the singer of my next band. I joined up with his band and we had had pretty good success in the Cleveland area. We were called Sad Davie and played together for about 3 years. We played all the main clubs in Cleveland and started getting a pretty good following. This was my first experience of being in the studio and recording an album, very exciting. I also started to sing backing vocals as well. We even had a write up in the Plain Dealer from writer Jane Scott. I later joined a group with the guitar player from Sad Davie and we had a brief run playing out.
After I finished school I continued playing and doing some studio work with solo artists. I then started my first cover band with some friends. We were called Feats of Strength and played a variety of music. It was a change of pace from doing originals. We had lots of fun playing out and with this band I started singing a lot more. After this band I was involved with a couple bands that never took off. Then I saw the ad for this band. I 've always heard great things about The Girls Band and knew it would be a great opportunity for me. So I tried out and the rest is history.
Favorite Bands/Artists: Genesis, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, The Police, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Tears For Fears, Talking Heads, Radiohead
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Number: 10
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Samantha is a 20 year old, sophomore at Kent State University, working towards a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Musical Theatre. Samantha graduated from Mayfield High School in 2008, where she participated in show choir, a cappella choir, the dance team, and school musicals. Credits of hers include: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oliver, Children of Eden, Damn Yankees, Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Footloose (Ariel), and most recently Rent and Assassins at KSU.
Her love of the stage doesn’t stop with performing. Since the age of 13, Samantha has competed in pageants both state wide, and nationally as well. Currently, she is your reigning Miss Ohio U.S. 2010, and will be competing for the national title in early July.
Samantha has always said, “Being on stage brings upon a feeling that cannot be replicated anywhere else. It’s the place I feel most comfortable and most at home. There is nothing more rewarding then seeing smiles on the faces in front of you, and knowing you have truly moved someone with your performance.” Samantha says her one goal in life is to inspire others to follow their dreams the way many performers have inspired her. No matter how difficult it may seem, anything is possible with hard work, dedication, and the will to never accept defeat.
Samantha feels so grateful to have the opportunity to be surrounded and to perform with such incredibly talented people, and is thrilled to spend her summer entertaining audiences at so many exciting venues! |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 16:45 |
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The Band
