SHE can often be found belting out rock songs at the Irish Club’s karaoke night and now Penelope Ginich’s singing talent has won her a place in the Australian final of the Karaoke World Championships in July.
“I enjoy going to the Irish Club, having a few beers, and getting up on stage for a sing,” she says. “It’s good times with friends. I love doing the rock thing – I sang songs by Jet and Linkin Park to get through the first heat and the semi-final.”
Penelope, who writes her own songs and plays classical piano, will represent the ACT in the ninth annual Australian National Grand Karaoke Final to be held on the Gold Coast on Saturday, July 23.
She says she’s busy preparing for the finals, organising rehearsals and deciding what to sing and what to wear.
“I’m so excited. It’s all about being confident, though,” says Penelope. “You have to forget the competition, and just get up on stage and do it because you love it. And I genuinely do.
“I love being in the spotlight and entertaining people – singing is my yoga. When I get up on stage it’s relaxing to me. It’s like a relief.”
If Penelope wins, the first prize includes return airfare to the World Champion finals in Killarney, Ireland, in September.
“At this level, they encourage us to dress the part and not even look at the karaoke screens,” she says. “We’re expected to work the stage and really put on a performance.
“I don’t get nervous as a rule, but with the finals we’re going in blind. We don’t know what to expect. Hopefully I’m the only girl doing the rock thing.
“There might be professional musicians watching, it might lead to a career in music. You just don’t know.”
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