ENTERTAINMENT
Teen ’ s talent doesn ’ t end with singing
AUDIENCES in Sydney , Brisbane and Melbourne have been charmed by the voice of a singer from the Canberra suburb of Giralang , but little have they known that 15-year-old Robyn Russell is also a songwriter .
By VIOLI CALVERT
Robyn has already written the music and lyrics of Lost , What Happened To Us , I Didn ' t Need You , and Forget About Me , which she sang at the Fasttrack Singing Showcase .
But wait , there ’ s more to this young talent . She plays nine musical instruments : violin , saxophone , flute , clarinet , bass guitar , drums , guitar , ukulele and piano . And oh , yes , she can dance too . Indeed , Robyn is packaged after Las Vegas ’ multi-talented entertainer and sensation of his time in the ’ 60 ' s , ’ 70 ' s and ’ 80 ' s , Wayne Newton .
The Canberran ’ s next gig is the 29th Fiesta Kultura , the Philippine Australia Sports & Culture ’ s annual Labour Day longweekend celebration on Monday , October 2 , 2017 .
Over the last two years , Robyn sang numbers at Sydney ’ s Mardi Gras Variety Show , the Peñafrancia Feast Day , the David Pomeranz Concert , the Pasko Festival at Tumbalong Park , the Adhika Community Builders event , the Blacktown Freemasons event , the Lakas Adhika event , and the Marcus & Michelle Show series .
She has also sung at the Bo Cerrudo Concert in Gosford , the Sinulog in Wollongong , the Flores de Mayo in Cooma , and a fundraiser in Googong south of Queanbeyan .
In her hometown of the ACT , Robyn has performed at Pasko sa Canberra and at annual events hosted by the ACT Filipino- Australian Social and Cultural Association , in particular at the Sinulog , on Mother ' s Day celebration , and at the Springtime Ball .
Recently she was cast in the female lead role of a musical production , Back to the 80 ' s , at her Lyneham High School .
" The first time I performed in public it was not for singing but for dancing ,” Roby recalls . “ I was four or five years old when
I joined the PCS ( Philippine Cultural Society ) and my firstever public performance was with the group .
“ I am still a proud member of the PCS and I actively participate in all their events .
Robyn ’ s first public performance for singing was in fourth grade when she was cast as ‘ Goldilocks ’ - despite the fact her hair was brown - in the school extravaganza .
“ I never expected to audition for the play or to be a singer , but this was definitely one of the biggest events that encouraged me to become a singer ," she says .
What has give Robyn most satisfaction from her performances was “ meeting so many wonderful people ”.
Another highlight to her was participating in her high school ’ s musical this year . “ It was such an
amazing experience , and it was so different being part of a musical instead of just performing random songs at gigs ,” she says .
“ And if I don ’ t end up being a professional singer in the future , I hope to become a psychologist .
“ I am planning to study psychology in college and university , and I am currently doing a unit on the subject in my SoSE class .” •
www . kalatas . com . au AK NewsMagazine az e , Vol 7 No 12 | SEPTEMBER ER 2017 11