One local award-winning singer is about to take the spotlight.
Before Gord Bamford hits the stage this weekend in Paradise Hill, the community’s own Amanda Jean Wourms will hit all the high notes and strum her guitar.
Excited to perform at the Paradise Hill Arena on Aug. 7, Wourms said opening for Bamford whom she met earlier at the Carlton Trail Jamboree will be a “good experience.”
The St. Walburg native said she has always been humming a tune and singing songs, but cold feet stood in the way of the stage.
“I’ve always sung, but I was always too shy to do it,” said the country singer who graduated from Paradise Hill High School this year.
Wourms’ confidence grew as she performed in school shows, at local establishments and at the St. Walburg Blueberry Festival. And last year, Wourms’ confidence and talent took her all the way to Los Angeles to compete in the World Championship of Performing Arts.
The competition sees artists from all over the world compete in a wide rage of categories including dance, modelling, acting and of course, singing.
“It was a little nerve wracking but it was all fun,” she said. “I won nine medals there. I won a gold medal for contemporary vocal.”
While in California Wourms met Hollywood music producer Marc M/Doc William of Indasoul Entertainment, who has produced hits for Madonna and Janet Jackson, among others.
Wourms signed a five song demo CD with William, which she hopes to have available this weekend for purchase at the concert.
“The best way to put it is how I am feeling that day or what I have experienced,” she said of the inspiration for songs she wrote, which she likens to Taylor Swift.
“Usually I will get a tune in my head and depending on the feel of the tune, I can write some words to it. If it’s a slow tune in my head I will write a sad song.”
The singer-songwriter’s favourite song she wrote for the demo is “I Will Wait For You,” a tune she wrote after she returned home to St. Walburg from Los Angeles.
“I met a boy down there and that’s what the song is inspired by,” she said with a laugh.
Though she has yet to take music lessons, Wourms has honed her natural talent with a little help from her family.
“I hope to get some classes for protection of the vocal chords but I taught myself guitar and my Dad taught me a few chords,” said Wourms who also plays piano. “There is a song on the CD that I wrote for him, called ‘Hey Daddy’ and it talks about how he taught me how to play guitar.”
At the end of summer Wourms plans on packing her bags, this time she is bound for Vancouver where she plans to study audio engineering in music production at the Harbourside Institute of Technology.
“I have always wanted to do the singing career but in case that doesn’t follow through because it is very competitive. I am just hoping to get some schooling in just in case as a back up plan,” she said.
“It’s a tough industry but if you are passionate it is worth it.”
Catch Wourms in concert at the Paradise Hill Arena, in support of the new Paradise Hill Community Centre. For ticket information call 306-248-7668.