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The Shield
Newspaper, Campbellford, June 16, 2008:
On hearing the name
Bennett, one immediately thinks of music and furniture. So it comes
as no surprise that 18-year-old Chelsey Bennett, a budding jazz
vocalist, would be associated with both. The youngest child born to
Marlaine and Eric, Chelsey's interest in music began at an early
age. It helps that she comes from a long line of musicians, singers
and arrangers including her grandparents. Her dad plays piano and
violin, while her mom plays the flute and sings. Both siblings play
instruments; her older brother, a piano music composer, is currently
studying computer music at Peabody University. At age eight, Chelsey
joined a church choir, which at that time was conducted by her aunt,
Donna Bennett. Chelsey says, "Aunt Donna has been a huge inspiration
to me; my family has played a huge part in motivating me, funding my
enthusiasm for music at every opportunity, while providing a loving,
warm and fun environment in which to grow up.” Chelsey received
private lessons from her aunt in Broadway and classical music, both
of which she continues to enjoy singing. However, her real love is
jazz, something she began taking an interest in two and a half years
ago. Her dad directed her to Peterborough native and jazz artist Rob
Phillips. In January 2008 Chelsey entered a competition in the
Peterborough Examiner in which competitors were asked to submit a
song. The winner would get to perform at Peterborough's Showplace
Theatre Lounge at a fundraiser organized by NHL Montreal Canadiens
manager Bob Gainey in memory of his daughter Laura, who was lost at
sea. Chelsey did not win the competition with her rendition of Over
the Rainbow, but she still managed to blow the judges away and was
asked to sing at the concert anyway. This led to her performing a
solo concert on April 23 at the Showplace Lounge. Beaming with
pride, she added, "The feeling I got being up there on stage was
incredible, knowing the audience had actually come to see me alone
was amazing. I felt so proud, hugely successful and grateful to all
the people who have played such a big part in my getting there.”
Another highlight for Chelsey was opening with Rob Phillips for Juno
award-winning song writer Ron Sexsmith. The Campbellford District
High School (CDHS) student recently gained a place at McGill
University and is currently waiting to hear from Berkeley and
Humber. A big influence on Chelsey's life has been CDHS Musical
Director Dave Noble, who she claims is responsible for her being the
vocalist in Stairway Jazz, a quintet in which she performs with her
cousin Ben Finley. She is modest about her success, which she
attributes to her family and friends, who have backed her 100 per
cent. To people starting out, Chelsey has this advice, "Don't set
limits, have the courage to follow your dreams, pursue every
opportunity.”
CHELSEY BENNETT HAS GUESTED WITH:
Richard
Simpkins,
Rob
Phillips,
Mike
Graham, Curtis Conkwright, Carrie
Chesnutt,
The Weber Brothers
PETERBOROUGH Venues
that CHELSEY BENNETT has PERFORMed in:
Showplace,
Black Horse (The)
Contact
Information FOR CHELSEY BENNETT:
Sorry, we do not have
any Contact information for Chelsey Bennett, but
send
us an E-Mail and we'll do our best to get the message to her ASAP
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