by Victoria Usher
I think we can all agree that music is something very special that can change people’s lives in so many indescribable ways. It can turn strangers into friends or even bring happiness and comfort during times of sadness. When someone has a voice that has the ability to bring that type of joy to people’s lives then that is truly a gift that should be shared with the world. Nineteen year old April Davis has been gifted with a beautiful singing voice, one which she happily and passionately uses to touch the lives of people of all ages.
What makes April so unique and special is the fact that she is able to reach the elderly and the Veterans with her singing at such a young age. Listening to songs that she hears in old movies makes her want to learn how to sing them, and when she finally does she sings them so wonderfully.
Singing the old time songs that April loves has helped her to create a strong connection with the elderly in town including the Alzheimer/Dementia units at the Memory Care Unit at Cypress Place. She sings regularly at Oxnard Family Circle and Cypress Place, but she has also sung at local assisted living facilities such as The Bonaventure, The Lexington, The Palms, and The Gables.
April has shared her love for singing with many people; she was a winner of the 2014 La Estrella singing contest at the Pacific View Mall, a finalist for the 805’s Got Talent competition, she sang at the Ventura High Auditorium for the Festival of Talent, and she sang for an organization at the Fess Parker Doubletree in Santa Barbara. She has sung the National Anthem at Ventura College football stadium for various events, at her middle school, at her high school graduation, and before the political dignitaries at various Veteran events. And at the Pacific View Mall for Livingston Memorial VNA’s annual Light Up A Life.
Singing has been a very large part of April’s life since she was eight years old. There was an American Idol Contest at her after school program at Las Posas Child Care Center and she advanced to the final round, but April made the mature decision to sign up for vocal lessons instead even though she did win runner up.
April was first taught the Speech Leveling Singing method from her voice instructor Kathleen Kernohan. She now takes lessons with a vocal instructor Soli Geerling, he has helped her with her voice in many ways, including teaching her how to use her voice for operas as well as classical music.
Aside from singing, April will be attending Azusa Pacific this fall after she finishes up her second year at Ventura College. She will continue to work hard in school and she will also continue to bring happiness to people’s lives with her amazing voice. Music is a magical thing that can bring so many people together in ways that seem almost unreal at times, and to be gifted with a beautiful singing voice that can create that kind of magic is an unbelievable gift. I think that we are all looking forward to hopefully seeing much more of the talented April Davis in the future.
