CHS student hopeful on 'The Voice' callback
<p dir="ltr"><span>Chester High School junior Jackie Hopkins is hoping to get an experience of a lifetime.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The 16-year-old is scheduled to perform in Atlanta on June 9 as part of a callback session for NBC's reality singing competition "The Voice."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>The show recently crowned former child star Alisan Porter as its Season 10 winner on May 24.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"In February, I went to Chicago for an open call," Hopkins told the Herald Tribune. "I was doing it as a learning experience, just to say I auditioned for something.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"When I heard that I was auditioning for next season, I was in awe."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Hopkins emphasizes this doesn't mean she's on the show, yet. The callback session is the audition prior to the actual audition to get on "The Voice."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Before I sang, (the judges) were like 'Just come up here, try and do your best,'" Hopkins said of her open call audition. "It was a cappella, so it was just you and your voice.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"You were completely vulnerable, it was you and your voice and that's all you had."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Show hopefuls were gathered in groups of nine. Hopkins performed "Skinny Love" by Birdy and picked an alternative genre.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Honestly, I was so nervous I don't remember too much about what went down in the room," Hopkins said. "I remember little pieces, but the judge said to me that there was such a rush of adrenaline, I passed out when I got back in the car."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Hopkins stated that she doesn't know what to expect for the June 9 session, but said the judges at the open call gave her some advice.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"They gave me advice because I'm only 16 and I'm a little bit young still," she said. "Get more confident, perform in front of people because it's a competition of performing in front of people every single time."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Hopkins has started working on that aspect, performing at Benson's Wine Bar last Thursday. She also performed during the CHS Prom in April.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"I say I'm focusing mainly on alternative for my callback," Hopkins said. "When I perform, I do variety because when you get people in a big room like Benson's, it's good to sing songs that everybody knows."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Hopkins noted that she's been singing since she was young, but a role in one of the Chester Grade School Spring Concerts changed her outlook.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"When I was 13, I got solo in choir at one of the Spring Concerts and I think that's when I found out I had a voice," she said. "That's probably when I found out I had something."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Fast-forward a couple of years and Hopkins was asked what type of artist she sees herself.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"I just want to make meaning with my music," she said. "I don't want to make three minutes of words that's not going to mean anything to anybody.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"I want somebody to be changed with the music that I make."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Hopkins said she looks up to Melanie Martinez, who competed on Season 3 of "The Voice."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"She's not afraid to really show herself through her music," Hopkins said. "She makes everything a story."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Hopkins also wished to thank those who have expressed their support during this process.</span>
<p dir="ltr">"I would like to thank everybody for their support and kind words and it makes me proud to be from Chester, where everybody's so supportive of each other," she said.