Sylvan Lake’s very own 10-year-old Elijah Fullerton will be flying with his mother, Mandi Fullerton, to Los Angeles to prove his talents to a panel of 12 scouts for the International Presentation of Performers (IPOP) July 1 to 5, according to Fullerton.
Fullerton said her son’s talents were recognized in Calgary as he auditioned for the Undiscovered Talent Group and was one of 21 children who were chosen out of a total of about 500.
After receiving a call back, the Undiscovered Talent Group signed him to train for another audition to go to Los Angeles.
A student in Grade 5 at Lighthouse Christian Academy, Fullerton said her son has performed in plays with his school and this is where his talent was noticed.
“He really took to performing and singing so we had him in vocals, piano and violin lessons,” Fullerton said. “He was in a Christmas play one year and was really quite good at it. He memorized it all very well and he delivered the lines like they were his own.”
To show the community the young talent living in town, Fullerton is hosting a talent night at the Gospel Chapel where at least four singers including her son will be performing.
“We’re going to do some fundraising and finding supporters and putting on a local talent night,” Fullerton said. “We’ve invited all local talent to perform what they do.”
The performance will be on June 13 and will start at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. and there will be complimentary treats, coffee and tea. A silent auction will also be available.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 or can be pre-purchased at Arayah’s Hair Design and Day Spa or Lighthouse Christian Academy.
Fullerton said the overall trip to Los Angeles will cost $9,000, but is hoping to raise $5,000, as they have to pay for the flight and pay for their stay at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, as she said IPOP rented the entire hotel and that’s where the children will train and perform in front of their scouts.
“The agents mingle with the scouts and watch them while they are training and things like that, and the children perform for them,” Fullerton said.
Going to Los Angeles to be coached and to perform in front of a panel of agents is huge for Fullerton’s son as she said he has come along way as he is autistic.
“I know that people really stereotype autism but he's not ashamed of it and neither am I,” Fullerton said.
Fullerton described her son as being different because he thinks deeper than the average 10-year-old. She said he is sensitive to other people’s emotions and is very sensitive to things emotionally.
“Generally people get a vision in their head that autistic people don't acknowledge other people in the room or could care less about other people's feelings,” Fullerton said. “But Elijah is actually the other way to an extreme.”
She said he is very excited to be going to Los Angeles as he will train with two vocal coaches that had formerly competed in American Idol.
“They are pretty big names that are putting on the training and the children perform for a banquet for the top agents and scouts,” Fullerton said.