Future CEO Stars Magazine - March 2008
by Angela Thompson

I'm Angela Thompson from Thompson, ND and I won the Marketplace Talent Search! Winning this competition felt wonderful! I wanted to jump for joy, hopping and skipping around on that stage like a little kid. Darn it! I held it in. Maybe some other place and time. However, that night gave me a true shining moment to really use my talent. It was a huge stepping stone that could possibly lead to bigger things. It was just what I needed! The competing part - I'm not a huge fan of that. But, hey, if there's a huge reward in the end I'll go for it.

For the show, I performed my original song titled, "Kiss My Worries Goodbye." The second verse says: "All around the world people put themselves down....All around the world people forget what they know and their will to change." What we are forgetting is that we have all we need to know already there within us. We have just stopped listening. I've been learning to go within, because that is where true change and power starts.

The music director, Richard Torrance, and the band did a wonderful job. To sing with a band, especially one that is backing me up on my song, is an experience I will never forget. Practice time was only on the day of the event. Wow! It all came together so fast, but none of the eight contestants missed a beat! It was fun and exciting!

I started creating music at a very young age. Melodies out of thin air in my head, or worked out on any instrument I cam across. I picked up the guitar at age 14, taught myself, and a few months later I was singing my own songs and playing the guitar at the same time. I have nearly 100 completed songs, and a few dozen started and uncompleted. Yes, I was teh girl who sat home on Friday and Saturday night in my bedroom making music. I felt like a "loser" at the time, but all that faded, especially on Talent Search night.

Since the talent show, I've continued to pursue music. I've just started voice lessons. Sounds kind of weird to start now, but better late than never and there's always room for improvement. For me, it's about learning proper voice placement and techniques, as well as bringing awareness to what your voice and body are doing while you are singing. Staying on pitch is a piece of cake!

Where do I go from here? Reach for the stars! Music is supposed to make you feel good. If I can feel good, sound good and draw a crowd (hopefully, a growing one!), I'll just keep doing it! Music has been an inspiration for me since before I could read or write. Why would I ever just stop? That would be silly. Besides, life is an upward climb...when you listen to your heart.

Thank you to the sponsors, United States Senator Kent Conrad, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson and everyone involved in bringing about the North Dakota Marketplace Talent Search! It's a great experience that brings hope and encouragement to future home state artists and talent.