Young singer looks to expand horizons, spread message

Some people never find their true calling. For others, such as Aubrey Chappell, of Milton, that moment of realization comes early in life.

The 13-year-old singing prodigy has decided to expand her musical talents in the hopes of helping others and glorifying God.

“Aubrey likes singing and being on stage, but it isn’t about all that to her,” said her mother, Jodi Chappell. “It is one of the things I love about her, that even at her age, she genuinely wants to reach people for Jesus.”

Making a difference through her talents is a no-brainer for Aubrey.

“There was a period of time at our church where a few people had passed away all around the same time,” she said. “I sang ‘Angel By My Side’ around that time at church and I remember the response. A bunch of people came up to me and said they really needed that right then.”

Although so young, Aubrey is no stranger to the local music scene. At age 11, she was the youngest in her category of the WGRC Radio Get Real Youth Talent Contest and wound up winning the age group.

Last summer, she was runner-up of the Valley’s Got Talent competition in Sunbury and has performed locally at churches and other venues. Singing publicly, she has learned to take criticism in stride.

“I learned that not everyone is going to like me and that is just the way it is. You can’t have everyone like you,” she said. “I have received a lot of constructive criticism, and while I didn’t like that at first, it definitely has helped me learn more about myself and improve what I do.”

One of the big hurdles Aubrey had to face early in the process was her nerves.

“I can get very, very nervous before every performance. When I was younger, I was so shy and didn’t want to get in front of people,” she said. “But I kind of grew out of that. I know now that I have God on my side and I can always do it with His help.”

Her first singing experience publicly was at the Crossroads Church of the Nazarene near Montandon.

“I sang ‘Mary, Did You Know’ and a lot of people really liked me,” she said. “They wanted to hear more and have supported me and my singing experience.”
Jodi admitted that opportunities like that can really help a young singer gain confidence and mature musically.

“If your child has any goals to sing, the more you can get them to do on stage early the better,” she said. “The first time Aubrey was going to sing in front of a group of people, she was nervous. But I didn’t want to let her off the stage until she faced her fears because I knew it would set a precedent. The more you can work through stuff like that when you are young, the better off you’ll be later. Now at school when she has to give a speech or talk in front of others, she handles it like a pro. It can be a real balancing act — knowing when to push and when to back off.”

Aubrey admits that she is drawn to contemporary Christian music and plans to stick with that moving forward, following inspiration from some of her favorite artists.

“I’ve always liked Toby Mac and the energetic performances. I also really like Lauren Daigle because I think my voice really relates well with hers,” Aubrey said. “I also listen a lot to Francesca Battistelli who is very uplifting and Moriah Peters is another good one.”

Locally, Aubrey admits that her biggest supporters and inspiration comes from her family — both her biological family and her church family.

“My parents are definitely at the top of the list and my gram is very supportive,” she said. “I also get a lot of help and support from my pastors Janel Brooks and Janette Berge. If I need some encouragement or can’t hit a note, they are there to help me.”

Aubrey continues to work on her singing and is looking to get more involved in local concerts, church programs and other venues.

“We are definitely excited to see her get more experienced in using her gift. We know that comes with additional feedback and criticism. As a parent watching her go through the process, it can be tough,” said Jodi. “But I always tell my kids that they have a lot of people that already love and support them, they don’t need to worry about the ones who don’t.

“Aubrey has a long road ahead of her. There will be times where she’ll have to fight tooth-and-nail for what she believes in, but she also has a lot of support to help her through. And I also know that as much as I love her, God loves her more and will help get her through.”
For more information about her or to set up a concert, visit the Aubrey Chappell page on Facebook.