Austin Kilby to perform in Park

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Austin Kilby

October 2, 2012

Austin Kilby to perform in Park

Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette CNHI The Tifton Gazette Tue Oct 02, 2012, 10:53 PM EDT

TIFTON — The Concert in the Park series continues with local singer Austin Kilby taking the stage at noon Friday at Veterans Memorial Park, located across the street from the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce.

Kilby, 18, has performed twice in Tifton Gardens for the concert series. With his third performance being at a new location, he’s prepared to hit the stage once again.

Kilby is a Tift County High School graduate and is currently attending Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College as a freshman.

When asked about college life, he smiled and stated that so far, “it’s okay” and he’s been maintaining A’s and B’s. He said he’s made some new friends as well. He’s currently majoring in allied health. After two years at ABAC, Kilby said he plans to attend the University of Georgia or Valdosta State University.

Kilby has been singing all of his life. He said he came to Tifton when he was eight years old. The first song he sang at church was Amazing Grace.

In a past article, he stated that he has a mid-range voice and can hit high notes and occasional low notes. He described himself as a baritone.

In sixth grade, Kilby joined the choral program, and he’s performed at the Tift Theatre and with the high school’s show choir, which he was part of since sophomore year. He has performed at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, which he will be performing at again this year on Sunday and next week; the Love Affair; Tift County High School Miss Blue and White

scholarship pageant; and also in a youth band at a Christian camp in Tallulah Falls in north Georgia.

Kilby has also performed at the farmers market in Tifton and in Albany. He noted that while on vacation in Myrtle Beach, S.C., he ended up performing at a restaurant there and was asked to sing some more.

He grinned and stated that at the end of last year, during “Grad Bash” at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla., he won a karaoke competition.

Kilby also mentioned that he has joined the ABAC choir and was recently asked to join a band.

Now that he’s a college student, Kilby remains busy, but he hopes to one day make time to audition for a singing competition show, such as The Voice or American Idol.

Kilby said in a past article that he’s hoping singing will take him somewhere, rather that is becoming a professional singer or doing something in the entertainment industry and working with young kids. He had stated that J.J. Johnson has encouraged him and he wants to be an encouragement as well to other young kids who need that push.

Kilby still has the same feelings about having a singing career or doing something in the entertainment industry, but he stated that it’s good to have a backup plan — he plans to get a college degree.

At Friday’s concert, he plans to sing a variety of songs. He stated that he sings all genres. Some of his selections include “God Bless the USA;” “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” by Brooks and Dunn; “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by Boyz II Men; “Don’t Judge Me” by Chris Brown; “Home” by Michael Buble; “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz; “We Are Young” by Fun; and “You Don’t Know Me” by Ray Charles.

The free concerts are sponsored by The Tifton Gazette and Main Street Tifton. They will continue through October. People are encouraged to bring their lunches and a lawn chair or blanket to the concert.

To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.

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