Chelsey Bellnier

Additional Websites:
www.myspace.com/chelseybellnier
www.chelseybellnier.com


With the recent release of her album titled, “So Sweet”, Chelsey has turned heads from every direction. While performing in events from local festivals to state and national level fairs, everyone is making sure they meet her as well as get her autograph. She is an exuberant young country artist resembling the famous like Faith Hill, Miranda Lambert, and Shania Twain. She is also a prolific songwriter and experienced entertainer with all the ambition to do what it takes to make it to the top in the music industry. Chelsey is an artist to definitely keep your eye on.

Chelsey was born in Syracuse, New York where the family had strong musical roots. Her father’s parents were both musically inclined. Her grandmother was a member of a choir, while her grandfather was a keyboard player for a band named “Phase II”. While in this band, he traveled all over Central New York to play at various restaurants and weddings, which also included being a pipe organist at our local church. All of her grandfathers’ siblings were also involved in music, anything from a guitarist to solo vocalist. Being around music most of the time, Chelsey became very interested in singing. At about the same time she was entering kindergarten, she was beginning to do both singing and writing.

In 1996, Chelsey’s family relocated to Snellville, Georgia. Chelsey began taking voice lessons with Gwinnett Music. In fact, her instructor, Carol McCurdy, was the same instructor that Diana Degarmo had taken instruction from. During her instruction, she was writing and performing her own songs at small concert events put on by Gwinnett Music. Chelsey’s knowledge in the music industry was beginning to grow.

By the year 2000, Chelsey had been introduced to a well known choir group named, The Gwinnett Young Singers of Atlanta. This choir was nominated in 2002 for a Grammy Award for the CD recording of “Carmina Burana” with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Furthermore, this choir is well-known for its mastery of challenging repertoire and exceptionally high musical standard.

Chelsey has sung several seasons with GYS and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in "Christmas with the ASO" and have been featured in the PBS National Television Broadcast of "Christmas with Robert Shaw". Other performances she has sang with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra include Bizet's Opera, "Carmen," "Kid's Holiday Concerts," "Hallelujah, Handel," Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana," Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem," John Adam's "El Nino", and Howard Shore's “The Lords of the Rings". Chelsey has also performed in front of thousands of Music Educators at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Some of the other smaller events Chelsey has sung with are events such as Crayola Convention, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, and both spring and fall performances with GYS.

While singing with GYS, Chelsey was further vocally instructed by one of the best in the choir business, Lynn Urda. Lynn Urda holds a degree in Music Education and Voice from Florida State University School of Music. She has been a Music Specialist in the Georgia and Massachusetts public schools and has spent most of her professional life serving as a church musician, directing children, youth, and adult choirs.

In May, 2005 Chelsey had decided she wanted to pursue Country Music and opted out of her contract with High Tower Records in pursuit of a Country career. The following month, Chelsey and her father traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to meet with a recording company named, HMG Nashville. HMG produces projects, promotes selected songs from within those projects, and sends off demos to various radio stations. In working through the summer, Chelsey's completed her second CD titled, "So Sweet" which was released in late December 2005.

Throughout the remainder of the year, Chelsey has performed at various conventions and attended several live award shows in Nashville. In addition, Chelsey had begun to work with an artist developer, located in Nashville. Her name is Allison Abbott, president of "The Abbott Agency". Allison is known as one of Nashville's premier background vocalist, having toured with Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, and Rachel Lampa.

At this point, Chelsey was gathering all types of experience that would be used a great deal in 2006. She started the year off by performing several times at a local restaurant called, The Flying Machine. There she met Ashley Rivera, who not only became a good friend, but also a partner in music. Ashley then introduced Chelsey to the Georgia Country and Gospel Music Association (GCGMA) and encouraged her to become a member. Upon becoming a member, GCGMA booked her for many events, which then lead to her and many others becoming “Duo of the Year 2006” and “Vocalist of the Year 2006”. In March of 2007, she will be heading off to Pigeon Forge.

GCGMA was not the only organization booking performances for Chelsey. Others included Atlanta Country Music, her manager, and several other contacts. In the summer of 2006, Chelsey sang the National Anthem for Snellville’s Independence Day Parade. Chelsey was also asked to sing “Silent Night” for the 24th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting. She also performed at The Georgia National Fair, GA State Fair, Duluth Festival, and many others throughout the year. In fact, at the GA State Fair Chelsey won the talent show event.

Gwinnett Young Singers still had there busy concert schedule on a roll. They performed at the Chateau Clan and the Woodruffs Art Center. GYS was asked back once again to perform for the Christmas with the ASO. They will also be performing “On the Transmigration of the Souls” for 9/11.

Chelsey is still working her hardest to make it to the top in the music industry. No matter how long it takes, she is determined to get there. Chelsey states that once she makes it, the journey would have been well worth. Her dream is to inspire everybody around her and help others make their dreams come true as well. Watch out for Chelsey in 2007.