The gig of all gigs

A 12-year-old student in Marble Hill, Missouri, Brookelynn Shell would be a typical sixth-grader if not for one key element: the voice that lives inside her.

It's the same voice that's driven her since she was a toddler in a carseat -- "Even then, I was in love with music," she said -- and now it's the voice that will propel her to none other than Carnegie Hall's coveted stage in New York.

There, Shell will be among an elite group of voice performers from the U.S. and Canada during June's 2016 Middle School Honors Performance Series in the city that never sleeps.

She will perform as an alto with the Honors Junior Choir, one of three honors ensembles available only to the highest-rated middle school performers nationally and internationally.

It's enough to keep a young girl up at night.

Brookelynn Shell poses for a photo Monday at Woodland Middle School in Marble Hill, Missouri.Fred Lynch

"I didn't ever think I was going to make it," she said.

Being a small-town youngster in rural Missouri somehow didn't seem to compute with the noise, bustle and sophistication of New York, but there it is.

"I plan on having a blast. It's gonna be awesome," Shell said.

Part of the trip involves staying at The Hilton in Times Square and going to see a Broadway show.

"This is the first really big trip that my family has taken," Shell said.

Winning the opportunity didn't come easily, however, as Shell and her longtime music teacher, Melissa Cooper, had plenty of practice to do after school each day for the audition that ultimately led to this gig of all gigs.

"It's really exciting for someone in our area and a rural school to go and do this," Cooper said.

Cooper, the Woodland School District's choir director, has been teaching Shell since kindergarten and found out about the program this year. It was similar to one she participated in years ago as an adult, so she knew it would be an enriching experience for any student willing to work hard enough at being selected.

The music Shell had to learn as part of her audition usually is reserved for district and state competitions.

"My favorite song was 'American Lullaby' because it reminded me of a song a mother would sing to her child," Shell said.

Once she learned and performed that and two other songs, Cooper recorded them via computer and saved them on a thumb drive for the Performance Series judges.

"If it wasn't for (Cooper), I probably would have never dreamed of this," Shell said, noting Cooper helped with every aspect of the application process.

Shell has performed for three years with the Woodland Elementary Honor Choir and has been in every elementary talent show since kindergarten.

She also is involved in her church choir.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

RR 5 Box 3210, Marble Hill, Mo.