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“Allen looked at me and said, ‘She can actually carry a tune,’” Rosa
Albertson recalled. “I was like, ‘Yeh, she can.’”
Ever since that moment, the Albertsons’ life has never been the same. Allen had played the drums, some as a schoolchild, but he was more interested in playing sports than performing music. Rosa and Allan aren’t sure where in their background Olivia inherited the ability to sing, but it didn’t take them long to embrace it.
One of the results of Olivia’s talent, coupled with the Albertsons whole-hearted support of Olivia’s love of music, is that the 13-year-old singer has, for the second consecutive year, reached the finals of the Triad Idol competition in her age category.
“I had seen the show, American Idol, and thought it would be cool to get on stage and sing for the judges,” Olivia Albertson said. “When I heard about the Triad Idol, I said to myself, “Hey, why not?’”
There was obviously not a valid reason for why not.
“I did it last year, and it was a fun time,” Olivia continued. “This year it’s even more fun, because I’m seeing my friends from last year and I’m making new friends.”
Olivia will be performing with her friends in the Triad Idol finals at War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro on Saturday, June 17. Although, she is an only child, there will be plenty of family on hand in the auditorium to support her, including both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
“Singing is Olivia’s God-given gift, and she’s doing it,” Allen Albertson said. “That’s what we’re supposed to do with our gifts.”
It didn’t take Olivia long to put her gift to work. She sang her first solo at High Point Friends Meeting, where the Albertsons still attend, when she was only 5. As Allen’s job with Franklin International took the family to Newnan, Ga., and then Tupelo, Miss., before sending them back to Thomasville, Olivia sang in churches and at other public gatherings. Upon returning to the Chair City, Olivia enrolled at Fair Grove Elementary School, where the music teacher was Marlene Speece.
“Ms. Speece was the one who got me involved in the whole music scene,” Olivia said. “She told me, ‘You can sing,’ and she inspired me to start taking piano lessons. She stressed to me how music is a skill that can last all of my life.”
Speece later married, taking the last name Clifford, but she died in March 2005.
“She still inspires me, today,” Olivia said.
Rosa and Allen Albertson are inspired by the musical accomplishments of their daughter.
“I love to watch her sing,” Allen said. “I’m proud as I can be of her because I love watching her get up there.”
“I’m very excited for her because this is her dream, to sing,” said Rosa, a home-health nurse. “I’m very excited that she’s fulfilling her dream of being on stage and getting experience.”
Young Olivia has become a veteran of show business having performed in churches, weddings, fundraisers, ball games and other events. Not only has she taken six years of piano lessons, she has also taken a year of guitar.
Furthermore, for the last two years, Olivia has taken voice lessons from Dr. Alexa Schlimmer, who heads the music department at High Point University.
She also has a music room at the house, complete with a sound system, instruments and a CD recording machine.
But don’t get the idea that Olivia is a one-dimensional teenager. The rising freshman at East Davidson High was a constant honor-roll student at Brown Middle School, from where she just graduated. She enjoys swimming on the swim team at Colonial Country Club and playing soccer. In addition to music, sports and academics, Olivia enjoys art and is talented at drawing.
“She’s an all around good girl,” Allen said of his daughter. “She’s very trustworthy and very loving, a very well-rounded person. You couldn’t ask for a better child.”
Last year, over 1,000 hopefuls tried out for the Triad Idol competition. There were two categories, one for the 8-18 age group and another for those 19 and over. A bond has developed among many of last year’s finalists. Many, including Olivia, have participated in the Theatre for Schools, which is sponsored by Community Theatre of Greensboro, which also sponsors Triad Idol. The group put on 10 different shows in schools throughout Guilford County. She also has performed with Fredd Reyes, a fellow Thomasville resident, who has reached the finals in the 19-and-older category in this year’s competition. This year, there are two younger categories, 8-12 and 13-18, which Olivia is a finalist in.
Last year, one of the songs Olivia sang was, “Someone’s Watching Over Me.” It was quite an emotional experience because she was thinking of the late Marlene Speece Clifford during the performance. This year, during her rise to the finals, Olivia has sung, “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” “Breakaway,” and “Jesus Take the Wheel.” She’ll be singing “Because of You,” a Kelly Clarkson song, Saturday night.
“I enjoy singing pop songs by Kelly Clarkson and Hillary Duff,” Olivia said.
“I really look up to them, but I love all different kinds of music.”
While Olivia has expressed interest in going to High Point, UNC-Greensboro and Juilliard, one of the world’s foremost music colleges, she realizes that it is too early in her life to make a decision on college. She has decided, however, how she would like to spend her career.
“I want to get my doctorate in music and teach,” Olivia said.
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or
reid@tvilletimes.com.