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Teens United Under One Voice

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

mbearden@tampatrib.com

Published: November 22, 2008

BRANDON - She's no bigger than half the children in the room.

But Carol Abbott has a voice that commands attention.

"OK, all, listen UP!" she bellows. The room of chattering pre-teens and teens falls silent. When Abbott speaks, they know to listen. Every Monday night for 90 minutes in this leased space in a Brandon strip shopping mall, magic happens.

"Don't they sound wonderful?" Abbott whispers after the young singers line up and begin rehearsing a number. "They've only been singing together for a few months! This is amazing."

On Aug. 22, Abbott launched this experiment called One Voice. It's a grass-roots community choir of students. Her goal was to pull together a singing group not connected to a church, not connected to a school.

A former music minister, Abbott didn't like the walls that institutions create. She wanted a diverse collection of youth, and through word of mouth, she got it. They come from 13 schools in the Brandon area, and pay $35 a month to be part of this emerging group.

She plans to showcase their talents in free area concerts. "We want to be one shining light in this community," she says. "The lesson here is that every person is valuable, every person has a reason. Kids need to know that."

She's 45, with two children of her own, 15-year-old Tyler and 12-year-old Emily. Her husband, Court, in management for a pharmaceutical company, is her high school sweetheart. She's got a charmed life, and wants to give back.

She's doing it with One Voice. Abbott is booking events where the choir will perform - places such as The Children's Home, holiday recitals at community centers and Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies. The concerts will bring smiles to the recipients and help build the young performers' self-esteem.

Jina Roscoe, 13, of Gibsonton, is among them. Last year, her father - a single parent raising Jina and her brother - died of a brain tumor. She moved from North Carolina to Florida to live with her aunt and uncle. Getting involved in the choir introduced her to new friends and taught her to "not focus on the bad things in my life."

"My dad was a one-man band. He sang, played the guitar, drums and keyboard, and he loved music," she says. "I got it in my genes. I know he's smiling down from heaven on me."

Abbott says Jina's story is just one example why she is devoted to this group. Giving the singers a positive outlet and a purpose might make the difference in keeping them out of trouble down the road.

She would like more boys; she's only got two male voices at this time. So she's not above offering a bribe.

"I've promised everyone a $5 gift card to Starbucks if they bring in a boy," she says.

Abbott remembers the effect her music teachers had on her. She hopes to have the same on members of One Voice, showing them how they can use their talents to bless others.

These days, we're a little jaded by the onslaught of bad news. With Thanksgiving coming up, it's time to focus on what's right in this community. Be thankful to the unsung heroes like Carol Abbott.

For information on how to get involved or to book a concert, call (813) 610-7064. Hear the young singers in a rehearsal on Michelle Bearden's "Keeping the Faith" segment at 9 a.m. Sunday on WFLA-TV.

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