When Alyssa Delpopolo was sitting in the audience at The Voice Australia, she had no idea that she would end up on the stage herself. In a surprise organized by the show and Alyssa’s friends and family, Alyssa was given the opportunity to audition for the show. However, with only two hours to prepare and a history of onstage nerves, Alyssa herself wondered whether she would be able to give a performance worthy of the coaches’ attention and convince them to turn their chairs.
When our Music Man readers hear the performance she gave of Teddy Swims’ ‘Lose Control’, they will realize that she had nothing to be nervous about. Her powerful voice astonished the entire audience, and her impressive vocal runs had the coaches turning their chairs as soon as they heard them. She ended up with a four-chair turn, with Ronan going so far as to push his block button, ensuring he could coach Alyssa himself. The video of her performance has received over 32k views in just ten days.
Alyssa’s performance was astonishing technically, but what amazed me most was her maturity and the emotional truth she brought to her singing. I was amazed by the ability of a young woman to give a performance of this caliber, but when she shared that she was only 19, I was absolutely astonished. Not only that, but it was clear to me that she poured her entire heart into her performance, connecting with a song in a way that made its powerful meaning shine through even more.
Alyssa had quite the dramatic journey on the show, from starting as an audience member to becoming the first contestant stolen by a coach, which led her to switch to Kate Miller-Heidke’s team. She made it all the way to the finals, in which she sang Celine Dion’s ‘It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.’ She gave such a mind-blowing performance that she ended up winning the entire show—a result she never could have expected when she sat in the audience that very first day.
We know our Music Man readers love to see the underdog win and to witness talent being uncovered in the most unexpected ways. It seems that Alyssa might just be the poster girl for this very experience. Starting out as an audience member of a show, a girl who loved music but was too nervous to perform, and going on to win the entire competition is next level. This is someone whose talent is so huge that she won a contest she didn’t even apply for. To some, this might suggest that talent is all that matters in the end. In fact, Alyssa’s story tells me that no matter how gifted we are, the love and support of friends, family, and mentors are invaluable in reaching our highest potential.
Alyssa Delpopolo is clearly a remarkable talent whose mature, heart-on-her-sleeve performance on The Voice Australia left coaches—and viewers—stunned. At just 19, she’s only just beginning. Discover more via the useful links below.