ROYANNE MITCHELL
BLESSED WITH A
SWEET VOICE
BORN TO SING
By Essiba Small
Trinidad Guardian
March 25, 2000
Page 42
At
13-years-old she beat out competitors twice her age to become
the youngest National Song Festival winner.
Singing
the Roger Boothman composition "Everyway", Royanne Mitchell won the
hearts of many with her girlish charm and a massive singing voice that seemed
to belong to a woman.
Now
21, Mitchell has matured both physically and musically and now calls Coral
Springs, Florida, home.
"I
still can't look at tapes of that competition," she said with a chuckle
about her National Song Festival win.
"But
at least I get to see how much my voice has grown."
The
last of five children born to Germaine and Roy, Mitchell it seems, was born a
singer.
In
an interview a few years ago her mother recalled that her daughter always had a
sense of rhythm. "From as early as
nine months I remember her cooing 'Hallelujah'. It was so dramatic; people would gather around to see this
child."
When
Mitchell was around nine years old, she began staging concerts in the family's
gallery - a dream that was made a reality in 1992 with her full concert
"Ablaze with Joy" which featured members of her singing family.
But
Mitchell's National Song Festival experience will remain on her unforgettable
list.
"I
still think of it,' she said, during our interview.
"I
remember how scared I was singing. But
people didn't notice so I guess that I wa good at hiding it."
And
while Mitchell never regretted having found fame, she admitted having been
frustrated by "answering the same questions over and over again" in
the newspapers and on television.
"At
times I would just go through the motions."
Mitchell
also had to deal with her peers at the Corpus Christi College and the Holy Name
Convent who, on the first sight of her, burst into the 'Everyway' song."
Now
a student of the Broward Community College, Mitchell sees her move to Florida
as "broadening my horizons where education and my talent are
concerned."
Since
taking up residence there five years ago, she has pursued theology at the
Friends International University and is also enrolled in the Rose of Sharon
School of Liturgical Dance - a school that teaches ministering through dance.
She
described liturgical dancing as "a combination of ballet and modern
movements. It is very expressive and
demonstrative."
Mitchell
hasn't forgotten her singing though. At
least her mother Germaine, who has taken her voice training to Florida, and
also Mitchell's "inspiration", wouldn't let her.
Two
years after she went to Florida, Mitchell took the winning prize at the South
Florida Premiere Talent Showcase, taking home some $180,000 in prize
money. She has also done concerts for
Pastor's appreciation at the Rose of Sharon Ministries.
Mitchell's
trip back home last week was to plan for her first full concert since migrating
scheduled for Mother's Day at the Spektakula Forum.
She
also wants to put out an album of gospel standards along with some of her
original work.
"Right
now I am trying to build a foundation for that," she said.
According
to Mitchell, life in Florida couldn't be better. But that doesn't mean she has given up on Trinidad.
"I
come here every chance I get to see my father," she said.
"Living
in Florida has its advantages. Things are
easily accessible there an in terms of education, you have a wider
choice."
The
disadvantages?
"Transportation,"
she said with a grin. "At least here
you can always get a taxi. But over
there I have to drive to wherever I'm going."
Mitchell,
who remains rooted in her Christian beliefs, sees herself one day
"following in the footsteps of my mother" to become a teacher.
"I
also want to open up my school of arts out there too," she said.