"I’m a star, baby," joked 12-year-old Sandra Castellanos of Union City to her step-mother during one of her rehearsals last week.
Castellanos, fresh from rehearsing the song "Fallen" by Alicia Keys, was comfortable, but a little overwhelmed by all of the attention she was getting. Castellanos, who has received no formal voice training, had been chosen to sing at the Apollo Theater on 253 West 125th St. in New York City on Aug. 7.
"She really touches people when she sings," said Perla Espinal, the music teacher at Christopher Columbus middle school, where Castellanos is a student. Espinal said that all of the members of her church fell in love with Castellanos after hearing her sing a gospel rendition of America the Beautiful at the Lion Jam in Bayonne last year.
Castellanos’s performance at the Apollo Theater is part of a competition for young talent judged by the audience. Although this phase of the competition is not televised, later rounds will be.
Being discovered
Even though Julie Reisman, Castellanos’ stepmother, said that Sandra came to her and told her that she could sing, Castellanos’ s talent was only discovered recently.
"It was remarkable," said Reisman, about hearing Castellanos sing for the first time. "I knew there was talent there. But that was a natural talent."
When it came to singing, Castellanos said that she was often overshadowed in school by other talented students. However, when Officer Phil Alvarado, a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) officer assigned to Gilmore School, was looking for a student to sing during the DARE graduation ceremonies in May, Espinal, who also teaches at Gilmore, suggested Castellanos.
Castellanos then made her debut singing a duet of Mariah Carey’s "Hero" with Alvarado at the Park Theatre during the graduation ceremonies. The duo later sang the song again for the city’s Memorial Day celebration in Roosevelt Stadium. Prior to this duet, Castellanos was only heard singing the National Anthem over the loud speaker at Woodrow Wilson grammar school a couple of years back.
"After people heard her sing, a lot of people came up to me and asked if she was going to be famous," said Alvarado, still amazed that Castellanos has had no formal vocal training. "I though that this 12-year-old girl from Union City should be recognized."
After trying to find ways to show off Castellanos’ talent, Alvarado and other DARE officers managed to get Castellanos an audition with the Apollo.
"I feel that a lot of people care about me," said Castellanos. "And not just about me, but about my talent."
Alvarado said that many producers and people in the entertainment industry attend these events.
"This is a great opportunity for [Castellanos] to be seen," said Alvarado.
Dreams do come true
Castellanos remembers her father telling her that she would be performing at the Apollo someday.
"Whenever we would drive past the theater in New York, my father would say that I would be there one day," said Castellanos, who still watches "It’s Showtime at the Apollo" every Saturday at 1 a.m.
"I always watched the kids on the show and said I would like to do that too," said Castellanos, who used to perform all of the dance moves from Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" video for her family. "I can’t believe I am going to be in the Apollo. Dreams do come true."
Castellanos chose "Fallen" by Alicia Keys to sing during the competition.
"I like the song and how she sings it," said Castellanos. "I have the ability to sing it like her, but in my own way."
Although Castellanos is thinking positively about her performance, she still has a few doubts.
"I do not want to be booed," said a confident Castellanos. "That would be very embarrassing."
However, Castellanos knows that winning the competition, while great, isn’t everything.
"I know that even if I lose the competition, I will still be a star to my father and everyone else here," said Castellanos, adding that she noticed that most of the losers on the popular talent show "Star Search" are stars today.