APPLETON, NY- A young singer from Niagara County is taking her talent from her small town to one of the most prestigious stages in America.
Murphy McDermott, 14, is busy practicing for the biggest performance of her life and one that most musicians only dream of. On January 27, 2018, she'll be singing on the stage at Carnegie Hall.
It's a shock for this teen from Appleton who spends much of her day caring for her animals: 4 horses, 5 chickens, 3 dogs, 5 cats, and 2 frogs to be exact.
Murphy is also an "A" student at Mount St. Mary Academy, a competitive gymnast, and she shows miniature horses through 4H, but classical music is her greatest passion.
"She's probably one of the most musically intelligent students I have," said Wendy Williams, owner of Sound Foundations Voice Studio in Batavia.
Williams has been Murphy's vocal coach for years, breaking her out of shell and finding her strength as a coloratura sorprano.
"You get her up above the staff and all of a sudden you can hear her for days," said Williams.
Murphy's mother couldn't be more proud.
"I want to cry. I just can't believe it's coming out of her, cause you can hear it in her heart, just the joy of it. It's just amazing," said Tammy McDermott, Murphy's mother.
Williams recently surprised Murphy by secretly submitting an audition tape to the Crescendo International competition, and it earned her a spot in the concert at Carnegie Hall.
"It's my dream to sing in these wonderful, famous places, but it really hasn't hit me yet," said Murphy.
It seems this could be the first of many great things from the quiet little farm girl.
"She's very easy to work with. She's the type of person that directors want to have, and she's got a voice that if she chooses to continue with this, could take her all around the world," Williams.
If you have a "Great Kid" who you'd like to see featured on Channel 2, call 716-849-2216 or email Melissa.Holmes@wrz.com