Big voice puts youngster on track to singing career

Stephanie Hanvey HOWELL - Stephanie Marie Hanvey is petite and really quite shy. She loves gymnastics, cheerleading and basketball and, to look at her, you would think she is just another pretty fifth-grader.

You'd be wrong.

When this 10-year-old Ramtown Elementary School student opens her mouth to sing, she sounds like a highly trained much older star. Stephanie's strong, sultry voice turns heads wherever she goes and lately she has been asked to sing in plenty of places.

In fact, her calendar is already filled with gigs in the coming months, including an appearance on Amateur Night at "Showtime at the Apollo." Taping for the show, which will air on television next fall, is set for April 30 in New York City.

Stephanie sat outside on line for 10 hours to get into an Apollo audition; the show's producers listened to 229 people. Most of them were given 90 seconds to sing but Stephanie was stopped after 30 seconds. The producers did not need more than that to know she was right for the show.

"I'm really nervous before I go on stage, but once I'm up there in front of thousands of people I'm totally fine. It's so weird! I can't wait to be on TV," Stephanie said of her upcomingApollo appearance. "You know what? I'd really love to be on 'American Idol.'"

Stephanie is the youngest of the three Hanvey children. Her parents, Tanya and Kevin, have absolutely no idea where their daughter's amazing talent came from.

"She's had no formal training and, believe me, her dad and I cannot sing. In fact, it was quite a surprise that Stephanie has the talent she has," Tanya Hanvey said.

Stephanie began what is turning out to be potentially a career in show business early on when she sang Dolly Parton's "Coat With Many Colors" at a pageant. She won first place in the talent competition, and the big trophy she won that day is a constant reminder that she can, and will, succeed as a professional singer.

"I started when I was young and a friend's dad kept telling me I had a great voice," she said. "I was inspired by that so I kept singing. I started to look for contests to enter on the radio, just for fun."

Her mother remembers one particular day when she realized Stephanie was serious about a career in music.

"One day last summer she turned around and asked for a skirt. When I asked why she told me she signed up to enter Big Joe's Talent Show sponsored by New Jersey 101.5 FM. It was held at Point Pleasant on the boardwalk by Jenkinson's and she won!" Hanvey said.

Stephanie won a pass for the Point Pleasant rides for six people and she took five of her best friends for the day. From there, she went to finals on Sept. 2 where she sang John Lennon's "Imagine" and came in second. She will be singing the same song at the Apollo show.

When Stephanie is not singing, she loves to watch famous singers on television, including Hannah Montana and the Jonas Brothers. Does she think she's better than Hannah Montana?

"I wouldn't compare us. I wouldn't say I'm better. I'll let the people decide!" the youngster said.

"The People" will have plenty of opportunities to do just that.

After the 101.5 FMappearance, the Hanveys were approached by representatives of Carlson and Kolker, a talent agency based in New York. Since signing with the agency and a manager, Stephanie has auditioned for parts in Broadway's "The Lion King" and "South Pacific" and is hoping to soon try out for "Billy Elliott."

With the Great White Way and television calling, Stephanie could easily set her sights outside of her hometown and school. But she isn't even considering that as an option. In fact, she recently sang the national anthem for two Howell Pop Warner youth football games and at a Howell Middle School South pep rally. Also, this honors student is civic minded. She performed at a Make a Wish Foundation benefit that helped to raise money to grant wishes for seriously ill children.

"I am just so proud of her. She is a shy young lady, but on stage she brightens up and really shines," Hanvey said. "She is a whole different person and she enters a different world, and those who know her don't even recognize her on stage.

"I want whatever makes her happy, and right now she is so happy on stage. She loves to sing and she writes her own music, and I know she has a gift that she wants to share. I will always be there to support her - along with the rest of her family - as she pursues her dreams, and if singing is what she chooses to do, we will be there for her, cheering her on."