Sayville Teen on Stage Tonight in Talent Competition

A Sayville teen will be on stage Sunday night, competing against other talented singers in the tri-state area as part of MSG Varsity’s talent show, and is hoping local residents tune in at 8 p.m. to cast a vote to advance her in the competition.

Kayla Stockert will be performing, via a pre-taped live appearance, "Don't Know Why," a Norah Jones song. She landed in the contest after competing in a Live Taping at Maguire Theatre at SUNY Old Westbury in late March.

The talent show will air on Cablevision Channel 14 MSG Varsity.

And while it’s considered a major gig to be chosen for the talent show, it’s not the first time the 14-year-old has been on stage. Heck, it’s not even the tenth or 20th time. The Sayville ninth grader has performed dozens of times since she first expressed her desire to become a singer at the age of nine.

Her mother, Trish, recalls Kayla humming as an infant though her vocals were not heard for a few years as doctors learned Kayla had no hearing ability. An ear surgery corrected the issue and from that moment on Trish says her daughter began singing and never stopped. Favorite songs during the pre-school years were from the musical productions of “Annie” and “Grease.”

What sets Stockert apart from most other teen singers is that she’s in love with songs from the 1950s and 1960s. The passion has been a huge boon to landing her on stages, from local community fairs such as Summerfest in Sayville, to performing at charity benefits and local theater productions.

“She’s done a lot of cool events,” said Stockert’s mother.

Stockert attributes her love for singing to her parents. Her father sang in a band and her mother believes the dream to be a singer is just as important as a child’s dream to be a doctor.

“For us it is a real dream and we’re so happy and proud of her and this is what she wants to do. It’s not something to take lightly,” said Trish, noting pursuing a singing career requires a lot of work, commitment and effort.

“As parents we believe that singing is just as much a dream as anything else your child hopes to be one day,” said Trish, explaining she and Kayla saw a promotion for MSG talent show online and decided to send in a video.

This is the second season of the MSG Varsity’s Talent Show.

“We’ve seen so many talented high school students throughout the audition process, and we’re excited to give these 32 gifted solo performers and ensembles a high-profile platform to perform for their families, friends and local communities,” said Theresa Chillianis, general manager, MSG Varsity in a press release.

During the competition, contestants will vie for the “Talent Show Champion” title in three categories: Individual Vocalist, Vocal Ensemble and Dance Ensemble.

Each week the series will feature eight performances — two from the Vocal and Dance Ensemble categories and four from the Individual Vocalist category – and the audience will have the opportunity to cast their votes for their favorite talent at this website. Those performers receiving the most votes will advance to the next round.

Winners in each category will be crowned on Sunday, June 3 at 8 p.m. on MSG Varsity. In addition to being crowned “Talent Show Champion,” each winner will receive prizes they’ll remember for a lifetime: The Individual Vocalist winner will receive a two-day professional studio experience, including the opportunity to work with an award-winning producer to cut a demo CD or video and create custom-designed cover art. Prize includes a professional photo shoot.

Stockert has big support from the school district as administrators made sure to let both parents and students know about tonight’s talent show via emails and announcements in schools. Posters about her competing in the contest have been hanging in local Sayville shop windows for the past few weeks.

“Everyone’s been so supportive,” said Kayla, who offered up advice to other teens striving to be a singer.

“I just want to be me and stay true to myself,” she said, “ and I think that’s important to other young performers too.”