Christina Jones stands behind her microphone in a navy formal gown waiting for the music to begin.
She sways to the first notes of the song, but stops when she hears the familiar beats of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” which indicate her starting point. The song is a risky choice, but Jones hits every note with so much power and emotion that it’s easy to forget she’s only a junior at O’Fallon Township High School.
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That performance advanced Jones to the finals of the 7th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, where she competed with 17 other area high school acts at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. Jones went on to win the entire competition and an $8,000 college scholarship. She spoke with SLM about her recent victory and plans for the future.
When did you start singing? My mom says that I came out of the womb screaming. Music has always been a part of my life. When my mom was pregnant with me, my dad would play the piano and sing to her, and she would rub her belly. I guess you could say that I got my musical ability from my dad. He sings and he plays the piano.
And in public? I can’t really remember the very first time I sang in front of an audience, but I think I sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Do you sing at your high school? I have been a part of every single musical and play since my freshmen year.
Any favorites? I would have to choose between Pippen or Big Fish. Although I was in the ensemble in Pippen, it was a really good show. I enjoyed every single minute of it.
Do you sing a lot of show tunes? I usually sing pop, but I also like R&B and jazz. I basically sing anything that’s good music. Honestly, I mostly go by songs and whether or not I like a song.
Were you surprised when you heard your name announced as the winner of the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition? I was really surprised and thankful when they called my name. It was just amazing and everyone was really supportive. As soon as the curtains went down, I broke down into tears. All the finalists made a huge hug circle. It was just a really special moment for me. The camaraderie between [the contestants] was really amazing because we had only been together for less than a week, and it seemed like we were friends for a lifetime.
College is not that far away. Do you have plans? Yeah, I’m planning to double-major in musical theater and vocal performance with a minor in psychology. I’ve looked at a few schools, especially ones with contemporary musicals, which is what I like to do.
Any plans for the summer? The finalists do a lot of outreach around St. Louis, and I plan on getting more involved in my music. Hopefully, I will make it in a pre-college summer program at Carnegie Mellon with musical theater. I’m looking forward to it if I make it.
What are you most excited about in your life right now? I’m honestly most excited about all the doors that might start opening. I never know what is going to happen next, and it’s going to be great to find out.
