Produced and Presented by Alessandro Sorbello http://www.alessandrosorbello.com as part of Italian Week. TRUE blue country girl Shandell Tosoni may sing country music and ride horses on the Gold Coast, but if she goes to Italy, the songstress will tackle the undulating notes of jazz.She is one of two finalists up for the Pellegrino Scholarship, which will be awarded this weekend at the finale of Italian Week in Brisbane.Originally from Dimbulah in far north Queensland, the 21-year-old is currently writing songs for her debut album while working at Outback Spectacular."I play the lead female role, Kate, ride in the show and also sing at the bar before the show starts," she said.With her strong singing voice and rodeo experience, Shandell was a shoo-in for the part."I grew up riding horses and used to compete in barrel racing and breakaway roping on the rodeo circuit," she said.Her skills on the saddle pale in comparison with her true passion -- singing and songwriting.She graduated from the Country Music Association of Australia's College of Country Music and in early 2004 won an international award for her first co-written song Here With Me."I've been madly writing songs for my debut album, which I hope to record later this year," she said."I'm not in a hurry though; I'm only 21 and still figuring out what kind of songs I want to sing."Expanding her horizons, and vocal range, is the reason why Shandell applied for the scholarship, which sends talented young Aussie singers to Italy to further their skills. After making it through the preliminary rounds, she had a face-to-face interview with scholarship founder Steve Pellegrino and the Italian Consulate to Queensland and the Northern Territory."They fired a lot of questions at me about what I wanted to do in my career and what I expected of the scholarship if I win," she said."I want to take the improvisation vocal course at the Sienna Jazz College because jazz helps you learn the limits of your voice and then push it even further."Shandell, who is up against an opera singer, has one last chance to impress the scholarship selectors when she sings at the Italian Week finale at Suncorp Piazza on Sunday. The week-long celebration of all things Italian starts today and runs all week throughout Brisbane. Visit www.italianweek.blogspot.com for more information.Singer/Songwriter Shandell Tosoni is 17 and hails from Dimbulah. She has been singing Country Music for about 5 years and competing in talent quests for four. In her years of performing she has been doing incredibly well, travelling around the country music circuit. Her successful beginnings started at the Walkamin Country Music Talent Quest in 2001, where she won the junior overall title and the highest point score over the weekend, this entitled her to compete in the Gympie Muster Talent Quest where she placed second in her section of Country Rock. Some of her recent achievements are. Winner of Traditional Country section and second in the Country Rock Section at the Gympie Muster Maton Talent Quest (August 2003). Winner of her sections at the Emerald Gems of Country Talent Quest (June 2001). Graduate of the 2002 Tamworth Camerata. Placed in many sections at Charters Towers Gold Country Music Awards (2001, 2002, and 2003) .Finalist in the Qld Champion of Champions competition (2001, 2002). Top Five Finalists in the CCMA Talent Quests in Tamworth. The Barry Thornton Award at the CCMA Talent quest in Tamworth.
Author: newrealm06
Keywords: Shandell Tosoni country Pellegrino Scholarship
Added: August 9, 2008