Walsingham Student Wins 'Williamsburg's Got Talent'

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Step aside, Justin Bieber. There’s a new husky-voiced, shaggy-haired male singer more than ready to steal the spotlight and he’s just earned his first title – winner of Williamsburg’s Got Talent.

Twelve-year-old Christian Grech wowed the audience at the first-ever Williamsburg’s Got Talent competition, a fundraiser for the Williamsburg Land Conservancy held Saturday at the Colonial Heritage Club. Judges Randall Plaxa, Kathy Hornsby and Everett Collins narrowed a field of 10 contestants, both adults and children, down to two finalists: Grech and singer Caroline Scruggs.

Grech, a Walsingham Academy seventh-grader, had performed as Scrugg’s son in a staging of “Bye Bye Birdie” a few years ago. He knew she was a talented singer, and her rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was impressive. But his passionate performance of “And I Am Telling You” from the musical “Dreamgirls” brought down the house. A gaggle of girls – mostly friends from school – were screaming his name as he tackled the song made famous most recently by Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson.

Grech was stunned when he won, and said Monday he felt like he was in a dream. He has set his sights on a future in the entertainment business. He’s been singing “ever since I could,” and says he has always had a talent for remembering songs and finding the right pitch. His father, Dave Grech, is a talented singer who used to perform. Grech said he knew he might be a good singer when his father complimented him.

“Dad is really honest, so when he said I was really good, I got it,” he said.

In fourth grade, his parents suggested he audition for “Bye, Bye Birdie” and he landed the part of Randall, the little brother of Kim McAfee, a teenager chosen to kiss teen idol Conrad Birdie. He was the only Lower School student in the play.

Recently, Grech has been focused on pursuing his dreams of becoming a recording artist. He’s been recording covers of some of his favorite songs, such as “Who’s Loving You” by the Jackson Five, at the JT Asylum Studio in Williamsburg.

When “Williamsburg’s Got Talent” was announced, he decided to try his luck. His father suggested he tackle the difficult, but powerful song, “And I Am Telling You.” Dave told his son that when he first heard it in the 1980s, he was so moved, he had to pull over his car to listen to the rest of the song. If performed well, the song could have a real effect on its listeners. “I knew it was going to be so difficult, but if I nailed it, I would do so good,” Christian said.

He practiced in his garage, working on choreography and memorizing the lyrics. When he arrived at a dress rehearsal for the contest, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to pull it off. But after a great performance at the rehearsal, he was looking forward to the contest performance. “I wasn’t scared, I was excited,” he said.

Grech said 50 family members and friends came to the event to cheer him on and their support helped him soar through his performances.

He envisions a future in performing. Music producer Swizz Beatz, who has produced songs for Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Chris Brown and 50 Cent, heard one of his recordings and Grech hopes to send him more. He said he would like to audition for “American Idol” when he meets the age requirement of 15. He imagines a career like that of Justin Timberlake – a young star evolving into a blockbuster performer who also acts on television and in movies.

“I love to act and I love to sing,” he said. “I just want to perform.”

See Christian sing Jackson Five’s “Who’s Loving You”:

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