Children's choir, ventriloquist from the Valley 'got talent'

The ROCck Children’s Choir has been lifting spirits in the Mahoning Valley for a dozen years. Now it might get a chance to be heard by a national audience.

ROCck choir brings together young cancer survivors and unites them in music. It stands for Raising Our Commitment to cancer Kids, and the choir is part of the A Way With Words Foundation, which supports young cancer surivors and their families in the Valley.

It was formed by Brenda Rider of Austintown, also a cancer survivor. Rider writes all of the songs.

The music of the children’s voices has caught the ear of “America’s Got Talent.”

A producer from the NBC talent show recently called Rider to ask if she would bring the ROCcK Choir in to perform.

“I thought it was a joke when she called me,” Rider recalled. “But she said, ‘We’ve been watching you for five years.’”

Rider explained to the producer that ROCcK is not a competition choir. Its goal is to inspire. “She said, ‘I know exactly what you are,’” said Rider. “They are trying to implement this kind of act into the show — people whose goal is not to become a star.”

Rider sent to “AGT” a video of the choir performing and got some tips back for the children to work on. When they are ready, the choir will get a chance to try out for the show, but there’s no way of knowing what the date will be at this point. The choir will resubmit a video to “AGT” later this summer.

The ROCcK choir has a few more projects on its plate this summer, including its annual “kids helping kids” mission, which will take it to Tennessee.

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., has invited the choir to visit and perform for the patients. Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., also has invited the choir for a visit.

To raise money for lodging and other expenses for the Tennessee trip, the choir is selling embroidered American flags for $15 at Something Unique Flowers on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown (it’s right next to Walmart).

Compco Industries of Columbiana already has agreed to pay for the bus.

The choir will sing the National Anthem at Sharon Speedway on July 30, and head to Tennesee the next morning.

In the meantime, there will be a Kids ROCcK Benefit on June 14 from 5 to 8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 210 Wick Ave. In addition to the choir, performers will include the Mandolin Whiskey Band, Rachell Joy, Patricia Boyer, Jenah Shank, Terry and Diane McCabe and more. The event will include a live auction that will include autographed items from “Duck Dynasty,” NASCAR drivers and film stars.

Admission will be free, but an offering will be taken.

The ROCcK choir currently has 17 members and has released a CD, which can be heard (and purchased) on cdbaby.com. The choir passes out its CDs at appearances at hospitals and other events.

The choir started with 25 kids, but some move on after their health improves or they get older.

“I’ve had six graduate,” said Rider.

“It’s been a near ride,” she continued. “The kids get a lot out of it. The older ones are now teaching the younger ones — how to stand, how to dance.”

At the kids’ request, Rider even wrote a rap song (“ROCcK Rap”). “I told them at first, ‘That’s out of my element.’ But I did it, and they thought it was the coolest thing ever.”

To learn more, go to awaywithwordsfoundation.org.

VENTRILOQUIST-PUPPET MAKER ALSO GOT A SHOT ON TALENT SHOW

Speaking of “America’s Got Talent,” a Youngstown resident recently got a shot at appearing on the national talent show.

Laura Anzevino was in Hollywood on April 21 to audition.

She was invited after submitting a video of her ventriloquist act and performed in front of judges Howie Mandel, Howard Stern, Mel B and Heidi Klum — and an audience that topped 3,000 — at the audition, which was at the Dolby Theater.

It was a long day that started at 4 a.m. and included interviews with show host Nick Cannon and other producers. Her audition wasn’t until 7 p.m.

Up until then, Anzevino was tweaking her homemade puppet Diva Licious, which she built out of discarded foam and recycled parts. The puppet is about 2 feet tall and has moveable eyes, mouth, arms, legs and head.

In her act, Anzevino used the puppet to impersonate Britney Spears, and does a fairly good impression of the pop star’s voice.

Amazingly, her audition was the first time she had ever performed her ventriloquism act before an audience. That is simply stunning.

“I was beside myself to perform in front of the celebrity judges,” she said. “It was so surreal.”

Then it got real.

After being interviewed by Mandel, she began her act. But the show’s producers played the wrong music. “The audience was very kind and understanding,” said Anzevino, who uses the stage name Mama Jama in her act. “They even cheered me on.”

Anzevino didn’t receive enough votes to advance to the next round, but she said she was humbled by the invitation considering the show producers scour tens of thousands of acts.

All of her routines can be viewed on YouTube.

Anzevino started doing ventriloquism in grade school but pursued guitar and vocals by the time she got to high school.

Anzevino is not only an artist, but an inventor. Her passion for recycling prompted her to make her puppets from discarded material. She configured the inside of the puppet with wire, making almost the entire body moveable.

It was this effort that rekindled Anzevino’s interest in ventriloquism.

A graduate of Niles High School who spent years in Florida and New York, Anzevino has other show-biz credits. She appeared in the film “Spring Break” and also has released a music CD.

She is also, by the way, the inventor and owner of The Sweet Roll, a natural hair styler for women. Learn more about that item at thesweetroll.com.