Article by Paul Hyde:
www.greenvilleonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/paul-hyde/2015/02/18/jackie-evancho-awakenings-peace-center-concert/23556881/Jackie Evancho takes a moment away from her homework to chat about her upcoming concert at the Peace Center.
Evancho may be a huge singing sensation but she's also a normal 14-year-old with tons of homework to do — even when she's on the road.
"I go to public school and let my teachers know when I'm leaving and how long I'll be gone," Evancho said, speaking on the phone from her family's home in Pittsburgh. "My teachers give me the work ahead of time and let me turn it in when I get home."
Evancho, who arrives at the Peace Center Sunday afternoon, is touring in support of her fourth studio album, "Awakening," which finds the classical crossover singer in a more contemporary mood.
"Some of these songs are more on the pop side and have a little faster beat than the songs I usually sing — but it was really fun," Evancho said.
The album includes what she describes as her new favorite song, U2's "With or Without You."
"I never thought in million years that I'd sing a song like that but now it's my favorite song," Evancho said. "The album was to show people what I can do, to be seen as a professional singer and not just a child prodigy."
It was four years ago that Evancho burst on the national scene through her appearance on NBC's variety show, "America's Got Talent." She left audiences astonished that such a beautiful soprano voice could be produced by a then-10-year-old.
At her next appearance, Evancho improvised a tune at the judges request, leading Piers Morgan to say, "You've got the whole package."
She won runner-up and signed with Columbia Records shortly thereafter. Since that time, Evancho has produced four albums, appeared on PBS specials and toured internationally.
She also has tried her hand at both acting and modeling. She made her acting debut in "The Company You Keep." Actor/director Robert Redford cast Evancho to play his daughter in the 2013 thriller.
In Greenville, Evancho will be backed by a 12-member ensemble of local musicians.
Among the other numbers on her most recent album are the ethereal ballad "Memories" by the Dutch band, Within Temptation, and the popular classic "Think of Me" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."
"That's how it started for me," Evancho said. "When I first saw the 'Phantom' movie I was inspired by the way the actors sang and really wanted to try to sing like that, too. Their passion must have got to me."
Classical standards on "Awakening" include Caccini/Vavilov's "Ave Maria" and Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise."
"I'd never sung Rachmaninoff's 'Vocalise' before," Evancho said. "It was fun for me because there aren't any words to learn, so I could focus on the beauty of the music."
On "Awakening," Evancho said there were "no limits" thematically or stylistically on the songs.
"Of course there are always going to be some classical pieces, but I wanted to reinvent the pop songs and make them my own," she said. "The only thing that mattered was that the song spoke to me."
As Evancho talked over the phone about her music, a chorus of five dogs barked happily in the background.
Evancho cares deeply about animals and has extensively donated her time as the U.S. Human Society's ambassador for "Mission: Humane," a program that encourages children to help protect animals.
"Working with animals is something I'm extremely passionate about," Evancho said. "Ever since I was little, I've been involved with animals. I love them so much and I hate the fact that they're not treated exactly the right way."
Wanting to enjoy a long career, Evancho and her parents limit the number of her concerts to two or three a month.
"My voice is still growing so my parents are very good at scheduling concerts and making sure I have enough time to rest," she said.
She doesn't plan to limit herself, however, to only singing in the coming years.
"I'd like to concentrate more on singing right now but in the future I'd like to branch out in acting and modeling — all of the things I've had a taste of. I'd like to get more serious about them in the future."
For the latest in local arts news and reviews, follow Paul Hyde on Facebook and Twitter: @paulhyde7.
For more information, call 864-467-3000 or visit
www.peacecenter.org.
around the clock around the Christmas tree 
, that would not be cancelled anywhere ;)better edit The long beautiful long flowing hair 
!!!" 