One Voice Children’s Choir – Dynamite

By starrymag | December 4, 2020

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

 

 

Q) How did being on “America’s Got Talent” change your life?

Liliana: I was not in the choir then, but I watched them on TV!!! I thought they were SO COOL and I wanted to join so bad!  I think it really gave One Voice a platform to share their music.

Brody: I remember watching my cousin perform with the choir on “AGT.” I wanted to do that one day, too!

Q) Tell us a little more about what we can expect from the upcoming holiday EP.

Emma: They can expect fun, inspiring songs that I hope will mend hearts and bring happiness.

Jocelyn: Our Christmas music is happy and fun with a lot of love sprinkled in.

Q) Is there a song off the holiday EP that you were really excited to perform and share with your fans?

Emma: Yes! “The More You Give” was so fun to film. I especially love the message in it, that serving others brings the most happiness.

Lauren: I loved performing “O Holy Night” because it’s one of my favorite Christmas songs and the combination of all the choir parts was beautiful.

Liliana: I love all of them, so I can’t pick just one. So, yes, to all of the songs!

Q) You recently did a cover of BTS’ “Dynamite.” Why did you choose to cover this song and what about the song’s message resonated with you most?

Kate: We wanted everyone to feel happy and joy in the world. I mean, my whole family still sings it every day and I only have brothers that listen to me all day, so it’s funny that they love this one so much they learned it right along with me. And my Dad is hilarious; sometimes he doesn’t even know he’s singing it and just starts belting it! It’s a song that sticks with you and makes you smile and feel happy!

Q) With our country currently in a pandemic, how did you approach putting together the music video for “Dynamite” and how has it changed the way the choir has approached performances going forward?

Liliana: We had to wear masks and social distance. Staging that many kids that far apart took some time, but we had so many awesome Moms to help. They took our temperatures and made sure no one had symptoms. That’s a lot of us to check!  It’s a weird new reality, but it’s worth it if it means still getting to do what we love.

Lauren: We had fun filming “Dynamite” even though we were socially distanced, which I think is a good message: that even though we do not get to be in close proximity to each other and give hugs we can still have fun and bring joy.

Q) Going through your YouTube channel, I absolutely loved your cover of “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman! What has been one of your favorite songs to cover to date?

Liliana: I can’t choose! I love them all, but narrowing it down… “When Love Was Born” because it was my first video with the choir and it was the day that I made friends for the first time. I felt like I fit in that day; it was life changing. Then, I have to follow it up with “Believer” because that was a lot of fun to film. Then, “Good Job” because we had a chance to thank everyone for working so hard to keep us safe. Next… “DYNAMITE!!!” Because it was awesome!!!!

Emma: “What About Us”

Lauren: “See You Again”

 

Q) Even though your performances are covers, has anyone in the choir tried to put together any original music arrangements to perform?

Liliana: A lot of us write original music actually.  We all support each other when we put out something new. It’s a great support system.

Q) In such uncertain times, why do you believe music is able to help the message of hope and joy resonate with so many?

Jocelyn: When people listen to music it can help them to forget some of the hard things they are going through, if just for a few minutes. We hope we can help lighten people’s days through our music.

Liliana: When COVID first hit I really had a lot of anxiety about it. Schools just shut down and so did a lot of businesses. I worried about my family and my little brother. I think the whole world felt panic and fear. It’s been hard to shake those feelings away when things are still rocky. Writing music, singing along to music, listening to music – it’s therapy. It can help you release the negative feelings and replace it with the good ones. It’s also something we can share together even though we can’t share dinner together or hang out together. I just think music is powerful because it’s something we ALL connect to. It can make a room full of strangers cry together or dance together or feel happy together.  I don’t know how it works but it does and I love it.

 

Q) As a non-profit, how has the choir helped the children who are a part of it and given back to the community?

Liliana: OVCC has given us so many opportunities to give back, either through singing at community events or collecting items to ship to places. It gives a lot of opportunities to us musically but also in other ways. Those of us who never really fit in at school, we fit here. We know we have a family of directors and singers and parents who care about us and look out for us. It’s a place to find yourself and then find the courage to be yourself.

Lauren: Scholarships are offered, so any child can have this amazing experience without having to worry about the cost.

Q) Have there been any celebrity entertainers that have wanted to collaborate and perform with the choir?

Liliana: We got to sing for Jackie Chan once and that was SO AWESOME!!!!!

Q) What is the ultimate message you hope fans take away from your music performances?

Elsie: I hope fans can feel the love and joy in our performances!  We truly love and are grateful for the opportunity to spread joy through our music!

Lauren: We hope that they come away from the performance with a feeling of hope and resilience against hardships.

 

Q) What would you like to share with your fans and supporters?

Emma: We love you and appreciate you. Our fans are why we do what we do.

Elsie: That I love them, that I’m so thankful for them and that I’m so blessed and grateful for their support!!

Liliana: We love you! Always! Thank you for loving us too!!!!

Jocelyn: I know it’s tough right now and everything, but you’re not alone. We’re all in this together!

 

 

Watch the Video For “The More You Give”