PA singer has winning voice

ROB KNOWLES

SINGER Franceline Jonas, 26, from Port Alfred was selected to represent South Africa at the National Performing Arts Competition held in Rustenburg from April 6 to 16.

Representing the Eastern Cape Jonas sangsongs in the contemporary, jazz, gospel and Broadway sections and achieved three gold medals and one silver in those categories respectively. With three first places and one second Jonas was also awarded the overall winnerin the Senior Section Vocals and selected to represent South Africa at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in July 2012.

GOING PLACES: Franceline Jonas

"Unfortunately, for her to participate she has to raise R70 000 to cover her expenses for the trip,” explained one of Jonas' mentors, Fiona Going. "That is the cost just to send Franceline there. However, the invitation to visit the USA at the World Championships will carry forward until next year. We therefore need to begin collecting for her trip now.”

Both Going and Jonas' other mentor, Hillary Glisson, have great faith in the performer, having first heard her perform at a recital at Kenton Music School.

"Franceline came to sing for us at the school last year,” said Going. "We were just stunned. Her voice is truly outstanding, and we knew we had to encourage her to sing professionally.”

Each year, countries send their most outstanding talent to Los Angeles in the United States to compete at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA). Over the course of a heated week of competition, entrants go head to head in a wide variety of events. Each winner receives a coveted gold medal and the event awards a total of $130,000 USD inscholarships.

Jonas is no stranger to competition having entered SA Idols and Supersterre in the past.

"I didn't do too well at either, probably due to nervousness. But the experience made it worthwhile,” said Jonas.

In 2008 and 2009 Jonas used that experience to enter and win a local version of Idols held in her hometown of Cape Agulhas, which she won two years on the trot.

Jonas moved to Port Alfred in 2009 and to Kenton a year later where she now lives.

With the encouragement of Going and Glisson she entered the regional competition under the vocals section, held in Port Elizabeth on February 5 and sponsored by the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture. This win then entitled her to compete in the national championships in Rustenburg.

"This (the WCOPA) is the most exciting competition I have ever entered, and the fact I won three of the four sections I entered and came second in the other was just amazing,” she said.

If you would like to assist Jonas in representing South Africa in Los Angeles next year, contact Hillary Glisson on (046) 648-2141, or e-mail her at glissonfg@telkomsa.net.