WCS Student Wins Grand Prize in Boston Pops Competition

Friday, May 03, 2013

Karen Mills, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Big voice--Whitinsville Christian School student and vocalist Innaray Oliveira has been selected as a Grand Prize winner of the 2013 Fidelity Investments Young Artist Competition.

Music lovers should keep an ear open for the newest voice in town: Whitinsville Christian School student and vocalist Innaray Oliveira, who was just selected as a Grand Prize winner of the 2013 Fidelity Investments Young Artist Competition at the Boston Pops.

On Wednesday, May 29th, Oliveira will be performing before a live audience on stage at a Boston Pops concert.

“I think it’s going to be an amazing experience to be able to have this opportunity of performing with the Boston Pops,” says Oliveira. “I think I am going to learn a lot and have fun too, because I love music and performing.”

No stranger to the stage

A sophomore at Whitinsville Christian School in Whitinsville and daughter of Emiliano SilvaNeto and Selma Silva, Oliveira is no stranger to the stage. She has been singing solos since the age of 6, and is a member of both her high school’s choir and the WCS vocal group Encore. Both groups are under the direction of Mr. Joshua Lawson, with whom Oliveira takes voice lessons.

“I found out about the competition from Mr. Lawson, who gave me the applications and encouraged me to audition,” says Oliveira. “My parents and musical producer, Jane Leitzke, also encouraged me to try out. I was a little nervous creating my audition video, because I knew I was competing with hundreds of talented students. I honestly didn’t think the likelihood of being a grand prize winner was high, since there were so many talented applicants.”

A young artist well on her way

As young as she is, Oliveira is already quite an accomplished singer. She has produced two CDs of her own, entitled Gratidao (2008) and Diferenca (2011). Oliveira also participates in drama, having just wrapped up her role as Sister Sophia in Whitinsville Christian’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music.

With her impressive musical résumé, Oliveira was an obvious choice as a prize winner. Finding out about the selection over the phone, she said, “I was super excited. My friends were around me, so we all started jumping up and down and hugging each other.”

Following this accomplishment, Oliveira plans to continue her music career and musical performing after high school, and currently has plans pursue a minor in music in college.

“I want to thank God, because without Him by my side I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am so grateful for all these wonderful things God has been blessing me with. I also want to thank my parents, my producer, and Mr. Lawson for encouraging, supporting, and giving me great and helpful advice,” said Oliveira.