Arts & Entertainment

Vote For Ashley!

Madison singer hopes national contest will give her career a boost; Vote for her on your computer, your iPhone, your Android, your iPad. Vote for her today, then vote for her again tomorrow, and the next day ...

 

Ashley Mirando, who first sang in front of an audience when she was four years old, has a goal. She wants to make it to Nashville where she believes she could further her singing career. To that end, she's been working and putting money aside.

But her father recently alerted her to an opportunity that could make her dream come true more quickly, a contest sponsored by One Main Financial. The grand prize is an all-expenses paid trip to Nashville, a recording session on Music row, a meeting with country star Ronnie dunne, and a chance to perform at the 2012 Country Radio Seminar. 

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"It's a pretty huge Grand Prize, and I would love to have the chance to win more than anything," Mirando said. And that's where her friends and fans come in. She needs them to vote. Voters can vote more than once, they can vote once a day, and votes on different computers count, as do votes on smart phones, and iPads.

Lots of votes needed

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Right now Mirando has almost 400 votes, and she needs about 18,000 to break in to the top 10.

Mirando says a successful showing in the contest could help propel her career forward. And, if it doesn't, she'll just continue to work hard to try to get to the next step in her singing career. That's what she did while attending Daniel Hand High School, where she says she received a solid grounding in music and performance.

"The music program is huge in Madison. It was great having so many opportunities to use my talent throughout school," Mirando says. "I remember back in 4th grade when we'd have "Open Mic" days and I'd bring in my karaoke tracks and sing in front of my class. I was in chorus throughout middle school and was able to learn different genres of music once I got to High School."

Thoroughly involved, thoroughly enjoyed it

And Hand she was participated in chorus, the show choir, Waes Haeil, and the a capella group Encore. 

"I was thoroughly involved in all of those groups and enjoyed every seocnd of it," she said.

In Show Choir her sophomore year, she won Best Female Soloist at a state competition. She also took advantage of ever talent show and Night of Songs night she could find.

More fun than work

"I took any opportunity I could to share my talent with whoever would listen," she said. "Being so involved in the music program led me to make great friends as well. We'd constantly critique each other and help each other practice. It always seemed more like fun than it did work. I loved it."

Still, Madison does have some limitations once someone graduations from high school, if they want to pursue a music career.

"That's the one challenge of being a singer growing up in Madison, there aren't a lot of places outside of the school system to perform and not many people in the industry to happen upon you," she said.

Country's future stars

When she isn't singing or working, Mirando often listens to 92.5, as does the rest of her family, including her dad. And that's where he heard about the contest.

"Since I can remember the radio has always been turned to Country 92.5," she said. "On the weekends in the mornings, Country's Top 40 is played by host Bob Kingsley. The contest was started by Bob Kingsley and is called "Country's Top 40 Future Star." To enter, contestants must upload a video of themselves singing one of the 10 Karaoke songs allowed by the competition."

Mirando sings "Undo It' by Carrie Underwood, who is one or Mirando's favorite artists.

Win or lose, she will persevere

Mirando says, win or lose, she'll continue to pursue her dream of performing professionally and making it in Nashville.

"I am currently working to try and save up money," she said. "I am hoping to someday move down to Nashville to try and pursue my dreams. I have been so lucky this year to make some really amazing connections with some really amazing people. I'm really excited to see what the future has in store for me!

"I believe anything is possible, but you have to want it. If you really want it, go after it ... don't wait until it's too late," she said. "Write songs, play your instruments, sing your songs ... wherever you can. Believe that you have it in you to achieve your dreams."


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