Bayou Chicot Elementary student to perform Thursday

For Sami Jo Welch, singing is her life, and for the second year in a row the Boggy Bayou Festival’s stage will be where Todd and Cindy Welch’s daughter displays her continual growing musical talent.
Performing at her hometown’s annual festival has provided the 12-year old with the opportunity to showcase the musical skills she has acquired during the two summers that Welch attended the week long music camp Septien Entertainment in Dallas, Texas.
Welch said, “This camp has really helped me get over my stage fright. I’m a shy person, but now I don’t get as nervous to sing in front of a crowd as I use too.”
Along with helping her overcome her stage fright, Welch said the camp, also provided her with the opportunity to take voice lessons, record a demo, have a photo session, take music lessons, and learn more about rhythm and drums.
At this year’s festival, Welch is hoping to try out the skills she learned last summer to enhance her performance even more.
“At camp, we worked on how to get the crowd going, and making sure you don’t stand still on stage. You have to move around,” said Welch. “Because I’m shy, I didn’t do that as much. I want to work on doing that more at Boggy Bayou.”
When it comes to singing, Welch said, “That is all I have wanted to do my whole life,” and to continue her journey to making that happen, she plans to raise money to help pay the $1,000 Septien Entertainment camp fee.
Welch, along with the help of her mom Cindy, will have a booth set up at the three day festival event and will be selling handmade air fresheners, softball bows, and painted wine bottles.
Welch said, “I’m excited to get to perform at the festival again this year, because it is such an honor to get to sing there. The Boggy Bayou for so many years has been helping people’s careers, and now it’s helping me reach my goals too.
Welch will perform Thursday, March 31, at 5:30 p.m.