A lot has happened in Ella Lindner’s life since she appeared last year in Morristown Onstage.
She has switched schools, from Morristown High to Fusion Academy.
She has sung at Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater.
And the returning finalist now is a firm believer in little green apples.
“It’s great for your voice!” says Lindner, who eats an apple as part of a pre-performance routine that includes drinking plenty of water and visualizing success.
In other words, she has come a long way since she sang Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy a year ago at the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
“I was very nervous. I’ve had a lot of stage fright. I’m much more confident now. I love the fact that MPAC is in my town. There are so many great shows I’ve gone to see there…It’s cool to be in the audience and then be onstage.”
Lindner is among 13 amateur acts who will vie on Wednesday for cash prizes and priceless bragging rights, in a fundraiser for the Morris School District.
This time, Lindner will perform Natural Woman.
The iconic Aretha Franklin hit was suggested by her vocal coach, Jini Ettigi of Randolph. Lindner belted it out earlier this year at Amateur Night at the Apollo.
“I was star-struck. All my idols performed on that stage,” she recounts.
Yet she came through. Her next round is in a few weeks.
Apollo amateur night performers are judged by a crowd decibel meter. Lindner is sure her parents, Rich and Hillary, helped.
“I know my parents were screaming their heads off, because the next morning, they couldn’t talk!”
At MPAC, spectators will vote for their faves via text messages, with top prizes awarded by a panel of music personalities.
Lindner will be ready.
Her older sister Helena--a 2019 finalist at MoS who exudes confidence–has been a role model. Ella Lindner now views every gig, large or small, as another step toward honing her craft.
She plans to move around more this time at Morristown Onstage, to create a larger presence. To banish butterflies, she will imagine a good outcome.
“One of the most important things for any artist is to know you are your biggest critic. Nobody is judging you as hard as yourself,” says the high school senior, who counts Aretha, Nina Simone and Lauryn Hill among her influences.
“If you got in (the show), you’ve got to be somewhat good. It’s just making the most of life in general. No one lives forever. You might as well do things that make you uncomfortable. You may never have another chance to do it.”
How do you like them apples?
The 16th edition of Morristown Onstage, a fundraiser for the Morris Educational Foundation, is scheduled for Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $35-$85, at MPAC’s box office, at 100 South St., Morristown, 973-539-8008.
MORE COVERAGE OF MORRISTOWN ONSTAGE 2023
Correction: Lindner will compete in the 18 and under category, not the adult division as previously reported.
