Maricopa singers honored at youth music program

Two young Maricopa vocalists received honors at a regional music competition in Scottsdale Nov. 20.

Fourteen-year-old Jaclyn Klank brought home first place “Singer of the Year” honors in the teen division (ages 13-17) at the Hot Pipes Showcase finale performance. Similarly, 11-year-old Ashlynd Beattie was honored with a second place “Singer of the Year” award in the junior division (ages 6-12).

Jaclyn, a ninth grade student at Connections Academy, is a promising, well-rounded musician with dreams of one day pursuing a career in music. She often writes her own songs accompanied by her own playing of the guitar, ukulele and more recently the piano. She has performed at various local public venues including Bead and Berry, Raceway Bar and Grill, the Phoenix Art Festival and at the Phoenix Country Club.

At age 14, Jaclyn already has national and international musical experience conducting street performances in the United Kingdom and around the United States. More local, she recently had some of her original music featured on radio station WVRC 104.7.

Likewise, Ashlynd, a student at Legacy Traditional School, has an affinity for music and hopes to continue pursuing it as a hobby. However, her real passion is animals, and like many young animal lovers she dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian. For now, though, she simply enjoys being a kid, riding her bike and playing tag with her sisters, one of whom, Cailyn, 10, also competed in the fall session of the Hot Pipes Showcase.

The biannual eight-week music program, held every fall and spring at the Kerr Cultural Arts Center in Scottsdale, is hosted by the Arizona Music Festival Foundation and aimed at grooming young musicians for a future in performing arts.

Hot Pipes participants meet on Sunday afternoons for workshops where they learn “stage presence, choreography, theatrics and group vocals.” They then perform for judges who provide critiques and constructive evaluations of their performances. Each session concludes with a grand finale performance where the students are judged based on their progress, originality and over all performance.

For information on auditioning for the Hot Pipes Showcase’s upcoming spring 2017 workshop, contact Program Director C.C. Jones at [email protected].

Photos and biographical information for this story were provided by Colleen Klank.