If you passed 12-year-old Olympias musician, Jasibe Salas, in the street, you might not realise that this extraordinary young person not only has the voice of an angel, but the confidence to sing in front of 300 people by herself! Last Christmas, Jasibe was chosen to sing the solo in The Snowman at Bridgewater Hall, backed by the famous Hallé Orchestra and Hallé Training and Youth Choirs. Earlier in 2024, Jasibe even made her début at the BBC Proms, alongside juggling a busy musical schedule of weekly piano lessons at Olympias, choir rehearsals at with the Hallé and Saturday music school at the Royal Northern College of Music. As Jasibe enters her seventh year at Olympias, we get up close and personal to find out a bit more about her day-day-to-life and her hopes and dreams for the future...
Tell us a bit about yourself Jasibe! "My name is Jasibe Ester Salas, and I am 12 years old. I was born in Argentina and lived there for 2 years before moving to Spain for 3 years and finally settling in the UK with my parents 7 years ago."
How did you get involved with Olympias? "When I was 5 years old, I joined Olympias Children's Voices choir. I was very nervous at the start but I started to enjoy it. I stayed for 4 years and learnt a lot of different songs and sang in lots of concerts. My choir teacher at Olympias (Michelle Robinson) said I should audition for the Hallé Children's Choir and helped me prepare for the audition - I was so happy when I got in! Olympias also gave me a piano scholarship, which meant that I had free weekly piano lessons - they even managed to get me a real piano! My current piano teacher is called Nadia and she is really lovely. I am really enjoying having experiences with her. I am currently learning to play two pieces called 'Tarantella' (which reminds me of Mexican music) and 'Waltz' for my Grade 2 Piano exam in May. Also, I am grateful to my first piano teacher, Greta Gasser. "
Can you tell us a bit about the Hallé Children's Choir?
"Every Wednesday after school, I rehearse with the Hallé Children's Choir. We are preparing for a new show in May, but my favourite is always the Christmas show because all of the Hallé choirs and orchestras are there. The trickiest part is learning the rhythm, because we learn a whole paragraph of music at once! Sometimes, a lady called Sara comes in and teaches us how to dance. I've made lots of friends who are lovely and kind - sometimes they bring snacks before rehearsals like biscuits and crisps!"
What about RNCM Pathfinder?
"What everyone at Pathfinder has in common is that they all play an instrument. Sometimes we watch music videos and try to copy them, as well as write music and learn theory. Then we have lunch together and you can have a little chat with your mates. At Pathfinder, I mainly play piano but I also do lots of conducting - it's my favourite thing to do! When you're used to it, it becomes part of you."
What would you like to do in the future? "When I grow up, I want to be a professional singer, singing a bit of opera and a bit of pop. I want to travel all around the world and sing for people. I also like acting, so maybe I could do that too!"
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? "Oh yes! I like playing netball, basketball and football. I also love reading and read books all the time. My favourite author is Jacqueline Wilson (I really like her book 'Hettie Feather'). My favourite books are the ones with a bit of drama, action and romance."
If a magic genie could grant you three wishes, what would they be? "That's really hard! I've got everything I want, really... I suppose if I could have three wishes, then firstly, I'd like to get a bigger house and get a dog - a golden retriever! My second wish is that my parents get what they want, because they work so hard and they really deserve it. My last wish is to sing with Marcos Witt."
Is there anything else you'd like to say before we finish? "First of all, thanks to God for giving me all these opportunities. Without Olympias and my parents, I couldn't have gone anywhere. Putting me in Children's Voices gave me confidence and lots of important experiences. Thank you for everything you've done."
...We are so proud of you Jasibe! Keep going - the sky's the limit and we are all rooting for you.
It's truly inspiring to see such passion and dedication from a young musician. Jasibe's insights into her musical journey and the challenges she's overcome are both enlightening and motivating. Her story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of nurturing young talent. Thank you for sharing this wonderful Q&A; it's a great reminder of the bright future ahead for young artists like Jasibe. https://theamberpost.com/post/10-effective-tactics-for-growing-your-tiktok-follower-count