Oprah Staff:
The video is of my 10 year old son, Jackson, who is also the youngest professional movie critic in America. Jackson (a.k.a. "Lights-Camera-Jackson") has had his own movie reviews website (www.lights-camera-jackson.com) for about a year and a half, and in September he got his own weekly film critic segment on a local TV station. He's also been doing movie reviews on the radio since he was 7 1/2.
Jackson is an amazing talent. I couldn't link his TV review work for you due to copyright issues, but you can see his segments here:
http://capitalnews9.com/content/living/lightscamerajackson/Default.aspx
and you can read his reviews, listen to his podcasts and see his box office wrap-up on his site.
But one of his most incredible talents is his ability to do impressions. He was born with the ability to hear a voice, sometimes only once or twice, and then duplicate it. Obviously his love for the entertainment business leads him to doing many celebrity impressions (the one's on this clip are of some of the 2008 Oscar nominees), but he also does political figures, cartoon characters and regular people. It's really something to watch and hear.
Nothing against the other kids you have on your site, they're all very talented, but when was the last time you heard a 10-year do impressions...and just NAIL THEM? I'm guessing never.
The other thing that makes Jackson so unique is that he is a "Kid Critic" - he reviews Kids/Family movies from a kids point of view. Other kids, and PARENTS especially love this, because they get insight and advice on a movie they might be thinking of taking their kids to...from a real kid...and not some 45 year old man who, for obvious reasons, can't relate to these films the way a 10-year old can.
And Lights-Camera-Jackson knows his stuff. He is a student of film and pop culture. He can tell you the actors, plot, release date and box office take of practically every movie that's been released in the past 3-years. And he knows the year that every Disney film came out - cold.
Last year he saw 46 films in the theater. Some weekends we hit one Friday night another on Saturday.
And, along with his reviews, he also does celebrity interviews. I know he'd love to ask Oprah a few questions about her film career.
Check out his website and on-air work. I think you'll agree that Jackson fits your criteria as both smart and talented.
Thanks for allowing me to write to you about him and I appreciate you considering him for the show.
Sincerely,
Dan Murphy
Jackson would make a great guest on your show as he could also do review some recent films or, and this would be very timely, do a SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW.
Charlie Liu might be the only 8 year old in the U.S. to be able to give a virtuosic performance on this very difficult Chopin show piece. Not only so, he's also a travel hockey player than plays hockey 5 times a week during season.
Charlie has won 13 international and local piano competitions, performed in all 3 halls of the Carnegie Hall (a feat likely no other 8 year old ever did) and performed on great pianist Lang Lang's own concert (very few kids had done that). He's Massachusetts 1st place and New Jersey 2nd place piano competition winner. Not only so, he's won 2nd place in Greater Princeton Chess Championship. He's identified as exceptional by his school district, participated in Continental Math League, and he skis and snowboards!
13-year old Norweigian girl Nora Foss Al Jabri singing "Somewhere over the Rainbow" live with Dag Stokke on the piano. One of the most talented singers the world has seen!
Hello Oprah Show!
This is Matthew Dane Peavoy. I just turned 15 years old. I'm a classically trained accordionist and pianist from Central Alberta, Canada. I've been playing piano since I was 4 and accordion since I was 8.
Normally the words accordion and classical never meet in the same sentence, but I have put a unique twist on this largely traditional, yet absolutely magnificant instrument. I have come to love the classics, being much more complicated and appreciated by everyone that I play for. I have been found to get numerous standing ovations, while also being able to bring some audience members to tears with my interpretation and feeling of the piece. This is what sets me apart from other performers, as I literally feel the music and listen and enjoy it while I play.
The accordion is the only instrument that can represent a full 50 piece orchestra, and I have not found an instrument that I can't represent with this versatile instrument [piccilo, oboe, violin, basoon, organ, snare drum, egg shaker, etc]. The accordion, unlike instruments like the piano for example, can make notes start soft and grow into grand chords, like many wind instruments. I can also represent the violin's bowing by use of the bellows and I have discovered how to make the accordion laugh and cry.
The accordion is also one of the most difficult instruments to play, balancing bellow control, note accuracy, dynamics, touch, phrasing, which bass buttons to press [impossible to see], and all at the same time remembering to breathe [least important to me, yet very crutial!]
I have been through many competitions and great performances. I have competed numerous times in local festivals on piano and accordion. I have performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, in August of 2007 with the Calgary Jarosh Accordion Ensemble. I have also competed in the American Accordion Association/American Teacher's Guild International Competition in Washington D.C, placing second in one category.
My greatest achievement to date is winning the Red Deer Festival of the Performing Arts' top award, out of 6,000 people, which was a performance opportunity to perform with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, which took place on December 8, 2008, with Maestro Claude Lapalme conducting. I played this piece, Czardas, with the full 50 piece orchestra backing me up, along with playing Ave Maria that evening. It has been the highlight of my musical career and an absolutely amazing experience!
I am currently also studying Grade 10 Royal Conservatory piano in addition to playing Trombone, Alto Sax, Euphonium, Trumpet, and numerous percussion instruments. I have also arranged several pieces for my Junior High Band, and composed several pieces on piano and accordion. I have also been referred to numerous times as a prodigy on accordion and piano, though I am not yet willing to place this title on myself.
I hope you enjoy these selections, "Czardas" and "Dark Eyes" as much as I do. Please listen to my other submissions. This opportunity would revolutionize the entire accordion world, as this style of playing is largely unknown.
Thank you!
Matthew Dane Peavoy
Nahshon O’Neil Hollis was born in Bermuda to parents O’Neil and Shawn Hollis on May 6th 1995. He is a 13 year-old self-taught imaginative oil painter that has a very fine talent and an eye for perfection and detail.
Nahshon attended Wee Learn Nursery which at the young age of two, first said he wanted to be a famous artist. Even in the earliest of his childhood could you see he had a God-given gift when compared to his peers. Most of his nursery years of work are in the hands of his nursery teacher that he would draw a picture for daily. At age six he attended Elliot Primary School. From here is when his talent became more evident to everyone around him. On career day, he dressed up in a painter’s shirt and a beret and boldly repeated that he wanted to be a famous artist. He got more involved and won many prizes for school related art competitions. He has won in three Junior Spring into the Arts awards and City Hall art competition awards, back to back Peoples Choice Awards and placed third in the Adult Quick Art competition for the Bank of Butterfield Art Festival, all in the age range of eight to ten. He was also a winner of the “One World, One People” competition for the Declaration of Human Rights for the United Nations. He has also been featured in events such as the Premiers Concert where he ‘wowed the crowed’, a beautiful and tranquil presentation of his pieces in the Spring into the Arts constructed by his music teacher, live painting for raising funds for “PRIDE” and also the RG and Bermuda Homes & Gardens 2008 Edition magazines. He has also made a great accomplishment at his current age of thirteen in showcasing his works in his very first art show at the newly revamped Masterworks Museum of Arts located in the beautiful Botanical Gardens.
Nahshon was inspired early in his life watching cartoon doodling when he was just in his pampers. He was greatly inspired by Bob Ross who he frequently watched any chance he could. From there, he branched onto his own mystical-style filled with more texture and a more classical look.
Nahshon has been selling his art since age nine and to date has sold about twenty pieces. Nahshon’s parents and sister Shanna give as much support as they can for their talented member of the family. He strives for perfection and detail in his art which can be lucidly shown in his latest pieces. He creates colorful, bright, serene and spiritual pieces which some viewers say can even be portrayed in his landscapes. Nahshon still plans to become the artist that he wants to be and hopes to help and inspire the world through his fine art.
You can visit Nahshon's website at:
http://www.nahshonsartworks.com
Almira is 11 years old. She is a musician, singer, song writer, and teacher. Her main activities besides school are play soccer, teach guitar, and write music. She plays several instruments including acustic guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboard, and drum. When she performs, often she uses a loop station machine to allow her to add several instruments on her own to accompany her singing on the stage. In this video, she is playing her original song 'Chillax' with acustic guitar and harmonica.
Little Michael has had a passion for music, specifically drumming, since the age of 2. In this video clip, Michael is grooving to some improvisation he may have picked up through watching drummers on videos and in church.
§ Passion of Music 2008 - youngest Laureate in international Young Musician Competition, Lincoln Center, New York
§ Long Beach Mozart Festival, 3d place. Youngest Laureate 37 Annual Piano Competition, Long Beach, California
§ Theme “Wow” musical composition 1st place on first stage, National PTA reflection program, USA
§ Helen Brown Music Competition, Winner, Los Angeles, California
§ Moscow Meets Friends International Festival, special invitation to perform by Vladimir Spivakov’s Fond, Moscow, Russia
§ Telluride International Jazz Celebration, solo performance among outstanding jazz musicians like John Scofield, Bill Frisell, Steve Turre. Telluride, CO
www.myspace.com/jessevickrocks
Jesse and Jacob have been musically inspired from a very young age, and they are now at a point in their young musical career where they are prime and ready to share their incredible talent with the rest of the world.
Jesse is only 15 years old, and he is the Lead Guitarist and Lead Band Member of the Jesse Vick Band. Jesse is accompanied by his younger brother, Jacob, age 12, as Vocalist and Bassist. The Jesse Vick Band's unique line up of original music, coupled with such young and rarely seen talent and impressive rock covers is what sets the Jesse Vick Band apart from the pack. Their major music influences include George Lynch, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Jason Becker and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Jesse has always had an interest in music. He began playing guitar at the age of 9, and he has excelled in his guitar abilities beyond anyone's imagination considering Jesse has never been professionally coached. It was through Jesse's devotion and love of music that directly inspired his younger brother, Jacob, to also discover his inner talent as vocalist/bassist/rhythm guitarist.
The Jesse Vick Band is truly on the verge of a major breakthrough with their latest demo release of "Redemption", "Dreams", and "You Got to Let Go. The preview response of these three songs has been extremely positive, and it's just a matter of time before this killer demo gets into the hands of major festivals, guitar shows, and promoters.
Already Jesse has many accomplishments to his name. Guitar Player magazine, September 2007 issue, features Jesse in the Editor Boy's Big Eight highlighting "Meltdown," as "it portends Vick's impending guitar heroism."
Sarah is an 11-year-old violist that started on violin at age 6 and started viola at age 9. She has a sister, Sadie, who plays violin, and both girls also play the piano. This piece is "La Folia" by Marais.
Jonathan is 5 years old and spends alot of time doing math for fun.
Since he was very young, he has been very interested in letters and numbers.
He now can read and write and do some math in his head and on paper.
Hope you enjoy the video.
Thank You,
Tanya
Name any country in the world and Arjun can play from memory the country's anthems on the piano. He learnt to play them by listening to them repeatedly.
He plays 6 musical intruments covering classical music - Indian (veena), Persian (santur and tombak) and Western (harp, organ, paino).
At age 6, he has appeared in "Animal Planet: Most extreme tough babies" for his extraordinary memory .
With everything going on in their lives, the thin that has kept these girls going is music. KJ and I have been writing songs together for roughly a year, and began singing together roughly a day or two after meeting. The strangest part about our writing is that is just flows from them, sometimes without us even meaning to, and we stumble into songs because our voices are so sisterly. When they write, the harmonies just come along with the words.
Though the two of KJ and Ayanna do have other focuses, this has always been their dream. The girls have have spent a lot of time just imagining what it would be like to be able to preform for thousands of people and have them enjoy their music as much as their family and friends do now. Though they preform at open mics and other performances, their talents have yet to be seen by someone who knows how to break into this very competitive business. It's easy to see that these wonderful young ladies have a passion for music, but it is preforming that they really love the most.
KnA
P.S. We've been watching the videos of the other people who have posted on the site and just want to wish everyone a goodluck and say that from what we have seen, everyone is super talented!!!!
These are my boys Charles, III and Zachariah on the drums. Pure natural talent. I am a Worship Pastor in my church, and they are just enjoy their hobby.
Zachariah is 8 and Charles, III is now 14