During the August concert, accompanied on guitar by her dad Austin and vocal coach Michael Ray, Selaena covered a range of songs from "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons to "You Don't Know Me" by Eddy Arnold, a Walt Disney medley and "Creep" by Radiohead. She gave each song a brief, personalized introduction and then she was off, immersed in the music but also inviting you along. Each note and word seemed to be caressed by her versatile voice, with plaintive high notes and rich deep ones sounding equally lovely.
There are bound to be some challenges (just a couple of weeks to learn some of the songs on a lengthy playlist) and distractions (like the blare of a passing CN train) during a one-time performance in a casual venue. Yet Selaena engaged the audience on this summer evening with remarkable poise and received a well-deserved standing ovation.
There are bound to be some challenges (just a couple of weeks to learn some of the songs on a lengthy playlist) and distractions (like the blare of a passing CN train) during a one-time performance in a casual venue. Yet Selaena engaged the audience on this summer evening with remarkable poise and received a well-deserved standing ovation.
Surprisingly, she's just eleven years old! A few days after the Glencoe concert, Selaena and her parents Austin and Catherine chatted about her singing at their West Lorne home.
It's a household where an interest in music is nurtured. Before their children were born, the Haywards agreed they wanted them to learn to play an instrument. Their oldest daughter, Caryssa, is a talented pianist going into grade five piano, while Selaena took both piano and guitar lessons. (The youngest son Clark has been, shall we say, resistant to lessons but was given the opportunity).
Austin is an accomplished guitar player, builds guitars through his company "Clark's Guitars" and is taking advanced guitar lessons, also with Michael Ray. Both parents enjoy a wide variety of music and that has rubbed off on Selaena. Although Austin tends to suggest a lot of old songs, Catherine insists on including new music too. Austin laughs, "She doesn't like a lot of old country music." Selaena adds, "Nooo! She threw his tape out the car window once ..."
Austin grew up in London and has been delighted with the decision to make West Lorne, his wife's hometown, their home. As it turns out, the local community has also had the resources they were looking for when, recognizing Selaena's natural talent, they sought ways to help her develop it.
Austin says, "She's really good, but she has the potential to be great so we want to encourage that." A friend suggested vocal coach Ray from nearby Dutton and Selaena started taking lessons from him 2 ½ years ago. Austin praises him as being one of the most talented musicians he has ever met as well as a great vocal coach. "He's shown her how to breathe and how to expand her range. The lessons have become a weekly constant, a routine, and that's what we wanted."
Selaena notes, "He's helped me a lot. Every song he gives me is a musical lesson. He gives me a song and tells me what he wants me to do with it. I memorize the words. Then I put my spin to it, and it kinda goes from there. He's the one that has gotten me shows; we have even recorded songs with him." Often she is given only the words and the basic melody and is asked to take it from there.
Catherine suggested getting involved in the WEDS play last December to help increase Selaena's comfort on stage and ability to convey a song's story. "Since that, I don't get stage fright," Selaena says. She and her parents agree that theatre would be a natural career direction for her.
Selaena is already able to engage an audience with sounds from sultry to jazzy to bluesy. She's only eleven so we may have more opportunities locally to enjoy the Selaena magic as she strives to become even better. A few years from now you may have to travel much further to hear her!
Find out more about Clark's Guitars and future performances by Selaena at www.facebook.com/clarksguitars.
It's a household where an interest in music is nurtured. Before their children were born, the Haywards agreed they wanted them to learn to play an instrument. Their oldest daughter, Caryssa, is a talented pianist going into grade five piano, while Selaena took both piano and guitar lessons. (The youngest son Clark has been, shall we say, resistant to lessons but was given the opportunity).
Austin is an accomplished guitar player, builds guitars through his company "Clark's Guitars" and is taking advanced guitar lessons, also with Michael Ray. Both parents enjoy a wide variety of music and that has rubbed off on Selaena. Although Austin tends to suggest a lot of old songs, Catherine insists on including new music too. Austin laughs, "She doesn't like a lot of old country music." Selaena adds, "Nooo! She threw his tape out the car window once ..."
Austin grew up in London and has been delighted with the decision to make West Lorne, his wife's hometown, their home. As it turns out, the local community has also had the resources they were looking for when, recognizing Selaena's natural talent, they sought ways to help her develop it.
Austin says, "She's really good, but she has the potential to be great so we want to encourage that." A friend suggested vocal coach Ray from nearby Dutton and Selaena started taking lessons from him 2 ½ years ago. Austin praises him as being one of the most talented musicians he has ever met as well as a great vocal coach. "He's shown her how to breathe and how to expand her range. The lessons have become a weekly constant, a routine, and that's what we wanted."
Selaena notes, "He's helped me a lot. Every song he gives me is a musical lesson. He gives me a song and tells me what he wants me to do with it. I memorize the words. Then I put my spin to it, and it kinda goes from there. He's the one that has gotten me shows; we have even recorded songs with him." Often she is given only the words and the basic melody and is asked to take it from there.
Catherine suggested getting involved in the WEDS play last December to help increase Selaena's comfort on stage and ability to convey a song's story. "Since that, I don't get stage fright," Selaena says. She and her parents agree that theatre would be a natural career direction for her.
Selaena is already able to engage an audience with sounds from sultry to jazzy to bluesy. She's only eleven so we may have more opportunities locally to enjoy the Selaena magic as she strives to become even better. A few years from now you may have to travel much further to hear her!
Find out more about Clark's Guitars and future performances by Selaena at www.facebook.com/clarksguitars.