Post by mapender on Nov 10, 2011 23:39:06 GMT -5
Saw this article and thought it was pretty cool. I don't know if Devon is a member here or not, but let us know if you are!
Here is the link to the article --> www.flipsidepa.com/fsmusic/ci_19306317
Local pianist competing to meet Greyson Chance
Who we talked to: Devon Hornberger, 13
How long have you been performing? I started playing piano about seven years ago. I used to live in Red Lion. I used to take (lessons) from this lady . . . every Saturday. (Music) is something I've always been surrounded with. My dad's a big listener. He's always playing things. It's (a skill) I always wanted to acquire and piano was just the first route I decided to take. I'm still playing. I have a new teacher now since we moved from Red Lion. Now, I'm singing in the choir at (York Suburban Middle School). I'm in eighth grade.
When did you hear Greyson Chance sing for the first time? I believe it was when his video (performing "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga) was . . . new, and it had about 200 views. I distinctly remember sitting on the couch and my mom coming over (and asking) "Have you heard this kid yet?" I have to say I've been a die-hard fan ever since.
Was it cool to hear a kid your age performing that song? It was the fact that he was playing the piano. How many boys do I know (who) would willingly get up on stage and sing and play a Lady Gaga song on the piano? It earned a lot of respect from me.
Which other artists have earned your respect? I have a big variety. (I listen to) a lot of Adele, Train, Gavin DeGraw (and) that style of music. I'm more into the acoustic pop (that's) not quite the everyday radio but it's also not, like, rock.
Did Greyson inspire you to try something new yourself? A lot of times, especially with piano, I don't mind playing the old things (and) the stuff that's in the basic piano books. (I go) out of my way to look for their stuff to aspire to try that.
When did you find out about the competition? I recently got into Twitter. I had Facebook, but Twitter was something new. I saw this tweet (to) look at the contest from Greyson's official Twitter. I was just checking it out. It wasn't the type of deal where you insert your name. It would actually take work. I believe it was mid-October when it was first announced.
I heard that you went to Greyson's York Fair concert a few weeks before that? Yes. I was able to . . . go backstage before the show and have a meet-and-greet with him . . . prior to him performing. I had about six friends along with me and all of them before were like, "I don't even know this kid." I was like, "Just wait." Afterward, they all adored him.
Do you want to talk about how the contest works? You could either . . . create a video or write an essay. I went for the video route. It was on why you're interested in music (and) why BlackBerry would help because the contest is sponsored by BlackBerry. There are about five different categories (including) fashion, sports (and) music. (Greyson) just happened to be the one heading the music category. That's how I came across it. I created that video and . . . within the next week I got an email saying that I'd been chosen as one of the 25 finalists (in the music category).
So the next step is to complete challenges? With being a finalist, you receive a free BlackBerry smartphone. It's about eight weeks of competition with four challenges. The first challenge (came) to a close (Nov. 4). BlackBerry is coming out with a new application. What you had to do was create a playlist of 50 songs. As you acquire friends on the BlackBerry Music network you then get their 50 songs. It's a social network platform just for music.
What did you put on your playlist? I did include a lot of Adele. The whole point of the playlist was to show your range. I included . . . Elton John, Robbie Williams, B.o.B, Black Eyed Peas . . . Queen . . . The Black Keys and Mayer Hawthorne.
What is the grand prize? The grand prizewinner is chosen after the four challenges. It's an all-expense paid trip to visit (Greyson). You get to spend a day with them. You get to go to a certain event with them. With the actual challenge, you pick two teammates. (They'd) get to go . . . as well. I picked two of my fiends. They're more Greyson fans than my other friends.
- Erin McCracken,
FlipSide staff
The contest
The BlackBerry BBM Generation Contest is designed to team up celebrity mentors with aspiring proteges in six categories. Categories and mentors are:
Fashion - Whitney Port
Film - Michelle Trachtenberg
Music - Greyson Chance
Sports - Hope Solo
Pop culture - Jared Eng
Entrepreneurship - Lauren Berger
The contest kicked off Oct. 3 and proteges submitted videos and essays. Entrants will be encouraged to invite up to three friends via Facebook to join their contest team. From those entries, 25 finalists in each category were chosen to complete four challenges from Oct. 23 to Dec. 20.Mentors send finalists BBMmessages during that time.The finalist who receives the highest challenge score in each contest category will win the grand prize, which includes a trip for the contest team to spend the day with the mentor.
Visit www.bbmchallenge.black
berry.com for details.
Here is the link to the article --> www.flipsidepa.com/fsmusic/ci_19306317
Local pianist competing to meet Greyson Chance
Who we talked to: Devon Hornberger, 13
How long have you been performing? I started playing piano about seven years ago. I used to live in Red Lion. I used to take (lessons) from this lady . . . every Saturday. (Music) is something I've always been surrounded with. My dad's a big listener. He's always playing things. It's (a skill) I always wanted to acquire and piano was just the first route I decided to take. I'm still playing. I have a new teacher now since we moved from Red Lion. Now, I'm singing in the choir at (York Suburban Middle School). I'm in eighth grade.
When did you hear Greyson Chance sing for the first time? I believe it was when his video (performing "Paparazzi" by Lady Gaga) was . . . new, and it had about 200 views. I distinctly remember sitting on the couch and my mom coming over (and asking) "Have you heard this kid yet?" I have to say I've been a die-hard fan ever since.
Was it cool to hear a kid your age performing that song? It was the fact that he was playing the piano. How many boys do I know (who) would willingly get up on stage and sing and play a Lady Gaga song on the piano? It earned a lot of respect from me.
Which other artists have earned your respect? I have a big variety. (I listen to) a lot of Adele, Train, Gavin DeGraw (and) that style of music. I'm more into the acoustic pop (that's) not quite the everyday radio but it's also not, like, rock.
Did Greyson inspire you to try something new yourself? A lot of times, especially with piano, I don't mind playing the old things (and) the stuff that's in the basic piano books. (I go) out of my way to look for their stuff to aspire to try that.
When did you find out about the competition? I recently got into Twitter. I had Facebook, but Twitter was something new. I saw this tweet (to) look at the contest from Greyson's official Twitter. I was just checking it out. It wasn't the type of deal where you insert your name. It would actually take work. I believe it was mid-October when it was first announced.
I heard that you went to Greyson's York Fair concert a few weeks before that? Yes. I was able to . . . go backstage before the show and have a meet-and-greet with him . . . prior to him performing. I had about six friends along with me and all of them before were like, "I don't even know this kid." I was like, "Just wait." Afterward, they all adored him.
Do you want to talk about how the contest works? You could either . . . create a video or write an essay. I went for the video route. It was on why you're interested in music (and) why BlackBerry would help because the contest is sponsored by BlackBerry. There are about five different categories (including) fashion, sports (and) music. (Greyson) just happened to be the one heading the music category. That's how I came across it. I created that video and . . . within the next week I got an email saying that I'd been chosen as one of the 25 finalists (in the music category).
So the next step is to complete challenges? With being a finalist, you receive a free BlackBerry smartphone. It's about eight weeks of competition with four challenges. The first challenge (came) to a close (Nov. 4). BlackBerry is coming out with a new application. What you had to do was create a playlist of 50 songs. As you acquire friends on the BlackBerry Music network you then get their 50 songs. It's a social network platform just for music.
What did you put on your playlist? I did include a lot of Adele. The whole point of the playlist was to show your range. I included . . . Elton John, Robbie Williams, B.o.B, Black Eyed Peas . . . Queen . . . The Black Keys and Mayer Hawthorne.
What is the grand prize? The grand prizewinner is chosen after the four challenges. It's an all-expense paid trip to visit (Greyson). You get to spend a day with them. You get to go to a certain event with them. With the actual challenge, you pick two teammates. (They'd) get to go . . . as well. I picked two of my fiends. They're more Greyson fans than my other friends.
- Erin McCracken,
FlipSide staff
The contest
The BlackBerry BBM Generation Contest is designed to team up celebrity mentors with aspiring proteges in six categories. Categories and mentors are:
Fashion - Whitney Port
Film - Michelle Trachtenberg
Music - Greyson Chance
Sports - Hope Solo
Pop culture - Jared Eng
Entrepreneurship - Lauren Berger
The contest kicked off Oct. 3 and proteges submitted videos and essays. Entrants will be encouraged to invite up to three friends via Facebook to join their contest team. From those entries, 25 finalists in each category were chosen to complete four challenges from Oct. 23 to Dec. 20.Mentors send finalists BBMmessages during that time.The finalist who receives the highest challenge score in each contest category will win the grand prize, which includes a trip for the contest team to spend the day with the mentor.
Visit www.bbmchallenge.black
berry.com for details.