Local singer to compete on PBS in Celebration of Music Talent Search
A local 13 year old from Carriere, Averi Barnes, will be competing in Celebration of Music hosted by Ethan Bortnick. Barnes will be competing with 16 other talented artist on PBS station WFSU in Tallahassee on October 22nd at 7:30 pm Eastern Time.
That same day, online link http://celebrationofmusic.com/tallahassee-fl/ will open and allow for voting by the public on the contestants. All 17 contestants will meet up again in Tallahassee for a live concert December 12, 2018. Voting will continue during the concert finally announcing the winner for the regional competition at the conclusion of the event. Each regional winner will receive a trip to Los Angeles to compete during a live nationally broadcast PBS concert event and a chance to perform with Ethan Bortnick.
Barnes is thrilled to be given the opportunity to showcase her passion for singing in the Celebration of Music Talent Search. A student at PRC Middle School in Carriere, she has performed as a singer for over four years. Barnes can be seen twice a year performing at the Picayune Main Street Bi-Annual Street Fair. She has had the honor of being invited to sing the National Anthem and God Bless America on opening day for the New Orleans Zephyrs minor league baseball team, and she has provided entertainment for many fantastic out-of-state events including The Boys and Girls Club Christmas Festival and Fundraiser, and the Slidell Camellia City Kids Festival.
She has studied at LAAPA School of Performing Arts and spent a season with the New Orleans Children’s Choir. Barnes has performed in numerous musical productions with Picayune on Stage, as well as several musical theatre pieces while training six of her ten years in dance at D&L Dance Center. Averi has recently decided to spread her wings and push her limits by taking the leap and competing in talent competitions. She placed as a local semifinalist in the Colgate Country Showdown and won 2nd place at the Picayune BBQ Blues and Heritage Festival singing competition.
The 2017/2018 school year brought a new adventure for Averi as she joined the school's show choir group New Edition. She was humbled to accept the honor of singing a solo her first year in the organization and even more excited when she was awarded Best Female Performance at the Petal Invitational. Averi can often be found practicing her skills around Picayune singing at local karaoke venues and is always well-received and encouraged by patrons to continue chasing her dreams.
When she has free time, Averi enjoys drawing, painting, sculpting, set and model making and design, costume design, dancing, acting, practicing the drums, saxophone, and guitar – basically anything artistic and creative. She also loves being outdoors and is very active with swim team, soccer team, and riding dirt bikes with her family. Averi has an infectious smile and a sincerely empathetic heart, delighting in selflessly giving of herself to anyone in need.
Averi is the daughter of Rebecca Carr and Lawrence Barnes and the step daughter of Heather Barnes and Shane Carr. She is treasured and loved by many family members including her sister Madalynn Carr and brothers Shane Carr and Garrett Carr. Her biggest cheerleaders include a large and supportive family with loving grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family and friends.
If you would like to interview Averi Barnes, please contact Rebecca Carr at 601-347-8572 or email rebeccalynnc601@gmail.com.
