An up and coming Delta singer will take to the stage in a few days in a major gospel choir competition.
Nicholas Kluftinger, 15, is one of only four Lower Mainland high school students picked from video auditions for the award-winning Vancouver Good Noise Gospel Choir VIP Young Artist Solo Vocalist Program.
The contest submissions, which were required to be an inspirational song of their choice, were judged based on song choice and singing ability. His winning song choice was Let it Be from The Beatles, which he will perform on Saturday in Vancouver.
Kluftinger, who attends Burnsview Secondary, said he’s quite excited to perform with a full choir backing as this will be a new experience for him.
“I've sung a lot of different kinds of music - jazz, rock, pop - but this is something I haven't done yet and I think it is going to be really great with the harmonizing that goes along with gospel singing,” he said.
Kluftinger started singing at the age of eight in the Delta Wonderchoir before moving onto solo singing when he was 11. He entered Delta Idol when he was 12 and hasn't stopped since. He was third in the junior category last year and has also performed at Delta's Got Talent, Youth Talent Search BC and numerous open mics and showcase performances.
He will also be competing in the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival this April and will be attending the Delta School District's Stage Performance Academy at The Vancouver Opera this September.
“I'm going to try singing opera, see how I like it and how it suits my voice,” he said.
Even if he doesn't decide on performing opera, his love for musical theatre was the reason he wanted to register for the academy.
“I absolutely love performing and singing on stage,” he said, adding his dream role would be Jean Valjean or Javert in Les Miserable.
He is also quite active in musical theatre and is appearing next in the featured role of The Grinch in the Fraser Valley Gilbert and Sullivan Society's Seussical the Musical, which plays April 25 to May 5 at the Coast Capital Theatre in White Rock.
