Name: Easton VanDyke
School/grade level: Sixth grade, Wyoming Intermediate School
Passion: Singing
Wyoming — During a district-wide talent show last school year, then-fifth-grader Easton VanDyke belted out the song “Wondering,” from the “High School Musical” soundtrack by Olivia Rodrigo and Julia Lester.
Now, after building skill and confidence, Easton has auditioned for a much bigger talent show: “America’s Got Talent.” As of mid-April, he hadn’t heard back following a virtual audition for the show in February, but was inspired by the whole process.
“When I was 3, I saw ‘America’s Got Talent’ for the first time, and I kept watching it. Once I hit first grade I really wanted to audition and try to get on the show,” said the Wyoming Intermediate sixth-grader.
To his surprise, his mom, Mandy Tithof, submitted a video of him singing to ‘AGT’ and was notified soon after that he had been selected for an audition. On Feb. 20, Easton performed “Wondering” again for a producer on a group Zoom call from his kitchen.
“I was shivering when I found out (about the audition),” Easton said. “I felt really excited, and I felt like this may be a chance that I can actually make it big. I really want to be a singer or actor. It made me feel really excited and happy that I had a chance to do something that involves my singing.”
He’s now dreaming of performing on the starry, dazzling America’s Got Talent stage — even if it takes a few more auditions to get there.
“I think it would be really exciting if I am able to stand on the stage that I have always wanted to stand on,” he said. “I feel like it would be a really fun experience to meet all of the judges. Howie (Mandel) is my favorite. I have been wanting to meet him since I first saw him on the show.”
‘(Singing) makes me feel like I could make it big someday — it makes me feel confident.’
— sixth-grader Easton VanDyke
SNN sat down with Easton to learn more about why singing is his passion.
When did singing become something you were interested in? What’s the story there? “I started singing random songs before I was 2. At first — before third grade — it was kind of a mess. Then, I got vocal coaches … and sang songs, and did breathing (techniques) to practice for the big role.”
Easton is in the WIS choir and has also been in a church choir, but he feels most comfortable on stage performing solo.
“I’m an introvert and I don’t really like talking to a bunch of people, but when it’s a public stage I can sing good. If I can’t see anyone’s faces, it’s kind of easy.
What do you like about singing? “I like to record myself and listen … It feels nice and calming, like I could just fall asleep. It makes me feel like I could make it big someday — it makes me feel confident.”
How would you describe your singing voice? “I feel like I can sing on many different levels — low, high, just normal. I feel like my singing has improved because I can harmonize.”
A few related accomplishments: Easton has had a solo part in the song “Popular” from “Wicked” in the school choir, has performed in many other choir shows, and has performed in a total of four WPS talent shows. As a fourth-grader, he performed “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman” movie soundtrack as a duet with Oriole Park teacher Hannah Church on the last day of school.
Do you plan to pursue this professionally? Envision yourself 10 or 20 years from now: “I really want to be on a stage with fans cheering and a crowd. I really want to be known; I really want to act. Next year I am going to get into the drama club. I want to make songs.
“I picture myself in a studio with producers and me writing lyrics, and being on stage and just believing in myself and what I can do.”
The biggest lesson you have learned from your involvement in this is… “I’m not always going to win and I’m not always going to be the best, but I’m still going to have fun and still learn from other singers and have a lot of fun with other kids. Seeing them happy makes me happy.”
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