Kapiti Observer Article
Dec 21, 2011 23:16:15 GMT
Post by Gary S on Dec 21, 2011 23:16:15 GMT
The following is an article from the Kipiti Observer which serves Toni's home area. I have previously seen the odd snippet from this article but this is the first time I have read it in full. This article is from January 2011.
Being UK based, for me the most exciting part of the whole article is the section I have placed in bold text. Hope it comes true. A good deal of the rest of the article already has.
Six years after winning the Coastlands Top 20 talent competition as a 12-year-old, Paraparaumu songstress Toni Gibson looks to be on track to making a career in music.
On January 7, the high-school graduate signed a career development contract with Gray Bartlett, one of New Zealand's best-known musicians, who has been the strategist and mentor for artists such as Hayley Westenra, NO SWEARING and Elizabeth Marvelly.
"Gray came down especially from Auckland to sign Toni and he will be helping to develop and foster her music career in New Zealand, then hopefully Toni can head to the UK," her father, Shane, said.
"She has already been in the studio with Gray and recorded a two-song demo CD."
The path to her signing began with her talent quest win. The prize included a recording session at Capital E's studio in Wellington and the resulting CD was sent to Bartlett, who expressed an interest in the young singer, then still at primary school.
He maintained an interest in Gibson's singing future, but a decision had been made that she complete her secondary schooling before making any career moves. In the intervening years, she has taken weekly singing lessons with teacher Ellen Barrett and performed in Paraparaumu College's Roadshow through secondary school.
Last year, Gibson had a lead role in the Levin Performing Arts Society's production of Sweeney Todd, but it is another major theatrical production she has set her sights on.
"I want to play Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. It's a huge role, but I know I can do it.
"I'm determined and I'm strong in a quiet way and I will do it."
She is already making her presence felt to an ever-increasing fan base, through the British website Classical Crossover, after her profile and a copy of her demo CD with Wild Horses and A Bit of Dirt were sent to the site.
"It's weird having my name feature with people like Hayley Westenra and Sarah Brightman, but awesome."
The response to her Classical Crossover profile has been remarkable. The site's Facebook page says Gibson "is causing a whirlwind on our site she's set the record for highest new entry in our chart, zooming straight up to number 13 after only being on the website for little over a week".
She has been receiving more than 100 fan emails a day, is being talked about on forum boards and videos are being created from her songs on You Tube.
Out of the cyberworld, Gibson knows her progress will not be so meteoric.
"Gray has told me to take it slowly and carefully it's best not to rush, but to be selective about what I do.
"Since I signed with him he has been in touch with a television producer but that is still in the negotiations stage.
"I need to get on with doing the gigs I've been asked to do, get my songs on the radio and I have to get a job."
The former toddler who loved to sing and dance appears to be on her way to achieving her goal of performing on stages around the world. Her demo CD can be heard at tonigibson.co.nz.
Being UK based, for me the most exciting part of the whole article is the section I have placed in bold text. Hope it comes true. A good deal of the rest of the article already has.
Six years after winning the Coastlands Top 20 talent competition as a 12-year-old, Paraparaumu songstress Toni Gibson looks to be on track to making a career in music.
On January 7, the high-school graduate signed a career development contract with Gray Bartlett, one of New Zealand's best-known musicians, who has been the strategist and mentor for artists such as Hayley Westenra, NO SWEARING and Elizabeth Marvelly.
"Gray came down especially from Auckland to sign Toni and he will be helping to develop and foster her music career in New Zealand, then hopefully Toni can head to the UK," her father, Shane, said.
"She has already been in the studio with Gray and recorded a two-song demo CD."
The path to her signing began with her talent quest win. The prize included a recording session at Capital E's studio in Wellington and the resulting CD was sent to Bartlett, who expressed an interest in the young singer, then still at primary school.
He maintained an interest in Gibson's singing future, but a decision had been made that she complete her secondary schooling before making any career moves. In the intervening years, she has taken weekly singing lessons with teacher Ellen Barrett and performed in Paraparaumu College's Roadshow through secondary school.
Last year, Gibson had a lead role in the Levin Performing Arts Society's production of Sweeney Todd, but it is another major theatrical production she has set her sights on.
"I want to play Christine in The Phantom of the Opera. It's a huge role, but I know I can do it.
"I'm determined and I'm strong in a quiet way and I will do it."
She is already making her presence felt to an ever-increasing fan base, through the British website Classical Crossover, after her profile and a copy of her demo CD with Wild Horses and A Bit of Dirt were sent to the site.
"It's weird having my name feature with people like Hayley Westenra and Sarah Brightman, but awesome."
The response to her Classical Crossover profile has been remarkable. The site's Facebook page says Gibson "is causing a whirlwind on our site she's set the record for highest new entry in our chart, zooming straight up to number 13 after only being on the website for little over a week".
She has been receiving more than 100 fan emails a day, is being talked about on forum boards and videos are being created from her songs on You Tube.
Out of the cyberworld, Gibson knows her progress will not be so meteoric.
"Gray has told me to take it slowly and carefully it's best not to rush, but to be selective about what I do.
"Since I signed with him he has been in touch with a television producer but that is still in the negotiations stage.
"I need to get on with doing the gigs I've been asked to do, get my songs on the radio and I have to get a job."
The former toddler who loved to sing and dance appears to be on her way to achieving her goal of performing on stages around the world. Her demo CD can be heard at tonigibson.co.nz.