Notice Me by Amanda Mason

Her love for singing started very early, her father says, “When she started to talk, she started to sing.” At only five years old, she was accepted into the Musical Preparatory Program at Texas Christian University where she was instantly noted for her exceptionally high vocal range. Amanda, her family and her teachers agreed – it only seemed natural she pursue opera training.

As her vocal lessons evolved, so did her dream of becoming a performing artist. She loved all aspects of performing arts. She took dance classes in a variety of styles, acting lessons from local theater schools and was even inspired to take piano lessons for six years. Not one to rule out any possibilities, she also joined a sports team. But no matter what, her heart always led her back to music. Her dream and her journey continued.

At the beginning of her eighth-grade year, she enrolled in the new Fort Worth Academy of Performing Arts. Its mission: to train and develop students in becoming world-class artists. Amanda was selected as a member of their professional choir, The Singing Girls of Texas, and was very active in the school’s theater, dance and vocal programs. It was an invaluable experience that she would take with her a year later when she moved with her family to Tampa, Florida.

Although she accepted the move, her challenge to keep her dream alive was even greater. Continuing her opera training was a must. When master opera coaches Joseph & Violette Meyers learned of Amanda’s dedication and love for singing, they agreed to audition her, but not without skepticism. They taught adults. She was just 14. But at her audition, her talent and enthusiasm proved that didn’t matter. They agreed to conduct her opera training and she is still a student today.

CROWNING MOMENTS

In addition to lessons, Amanda craved an audience. Just prior to the move, she’d entered her first beauty pageant and loved every minute of it. It wasn’t surprising. Any stage had a magnetic pull on Amanda. She signed up for a competition her first week in Tampa. In the last two and a half years, Amanda entered several pageants. She has held local and state titles including a national title. She attributes many of her talent, speech, modeling and acting successes to her pageant experiences. She even made an appearance on Jay Leno’s “Jay Walking” segment, where she sang a short opera verse to Jay himself.

While holding her first state title she captured the attention of Faye Culp, who had just been named the Chair of the National Order of Women Legislators. She invited Amanda to Chair one of her national initiatives, “Making Reading A Reality,” a program designed to educate and inspire children to read. It was a natural fit that gave her the opportunity to reach out and nurture others while building their self-esteem and confidence.

She feels extremely blessed to have made so many friends in the pageant industry and takes great pride in representing each pageant title she holds.

ON A MISSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

In the fall of 2005, devastating hurricanes swept through the southeastern part of the country. The tragic results got Amanda thinking and she decided to take action. She started an effort called The Katrina Backpack Project, collecting 500 backpacks filled with books and grooming supplies to send to elementary schools in Kenner, Louisiana, one of the hardest hit areas in the state. The project was a success, but Amanda wasn’t finished, saying, “Something inside told me I could do more.”

At the same time, she had flown to L.A. to meet with Roy “Royalty” Hamilton, a well-known music producer. Impressed with her unique sound, he agreed to produce a variety of songs for her. It was during recording that the answer hit her – a song for the people affected by Katrina. This way, she could continue to let them know that they were not alone. Together, “Royalty” and Amanda created and produced the heartfelt “Home.” Immediately, she began a campaign that distributed over 5,000 copies to families affected by the hurricanes, as well as to military personnel overseas. As a result, she was invited to perform it at the Lundi Mardi Gras festival and was even granted the Key to the City of Kenner as a sign of appreciation.

TUNED IN TO TEEN ISSUES

As word spread of her selfless efforts, she continued to gain notoriety. She was invited to sing on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives and was a guest speaker and entertainer at the National Order of Woman Legislators (NOWL) Conference in Florida. She also was invited to speak and perform at the annual Women of Commissions Conference, who kindly donated books to her program during their convention.

Soon thereafter, she received an invitation to attend the premier of the movie Chumbscrubbers. It would spur a new endeavor entirely. Shocked by the harsh reality of drug issues facing today’s youth, Amanda was moved to make a difference. She established a national drug awareness program to help educate teens on the dangers of drug and alcohol and titled it “Spread Your Wings.”

It was not your average after-school special. While developing the program, Amanda knew it was time for a different technique. Again, it came back to music. “Music speaks volumes to teens,” she says, “As they relate to the lyrics, songs can become part of the way they see themselves.” By giving them the music they wanted to hear, she could give them the messages they needed.

Her program theme is Tune Into Music And Tune Out On Drugs. The concept evolved into a 22-minute music video featuring three of her original songs and messages approved by Partnership For A Drug Free America. The second part of her program is an uplifting, 45-minute live performance where she shares her story and message through a variety of fun, original songs. By staying on the right track and remaining focused on her dreams, she leads by example, showing others that their dreams are possible too.

Her program attracted the attention of the State of Florida Drug Control Department and she was asked to sing at the Governor’s Annual Drug Summit in June of 2006. She was also a guest speaker and performer at the Parents Resource Institute For Drug Education (PRIDE) Convention in Washington, D.C. She continues to gain local and national sponsors as drug prevention programs across the country take notice.

DRIVEN TO BE AN INSPIRATION

Seeking to broaden her skills in performing arts over the past few years, she has attended many well-known performing art programs, including Stagedoor Manor in New York, Camp Broadway’s Master Class and Show By Show Programs, the New York Film Academy, the School of Cinema and Performing Arts and the Television Institute in Los Angeles. She even won the Silver Medal in Opera at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

There’s no stopping Amanda and her drive to inspire others. Once, during a turbulent flight, two young girls sitting across from Amanda began to cry. Not one to let another tear fall, she pulled her crown case from the overhead bin and shared it with the girls.

She talked with them while they tried on the crown and wouldn’t leave until they were smiling again. She believes that as a Queen and pageant representative, you should carry your crown and banner with you at all times. Always on the lookout for a way to help, Amanda believes, “No opportunity is too small to make a difference.” Among friends, she’s always been the advice-giver. Even to strangers, she’s an encourager. And any time she encounters military personnel, she gives them a copy of her song “Home” along with a wholehearted, “Thank you.”

With an effortless stage presence born from a natural inclination to inspire, this fun-loving beauty queen is well on her way to becoming a pop star. Her new album, Notice Me, plays up a striking mixture of pop and urban crossovers – a fresh mix to complement an equally refreshing attitude. While the spotlight may be shining on Amanda Mason, her passion is focused outward on the benefit of others.

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