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Little Girl with a Big Voice
Photos by Dante Fontana
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Life’s path is not always clear.
Artists and performers often find their true calling after years of searching for what nourishes their soul. Then again, on rare occasion, some people are born with gifts that transcend their years and lead them to their calling at an early age, as is the case with the immensely talented Olivia Kaufmann.
At first glance she is your typical 16-year-old girl. Born and raised in El Dorado Hills, Kaufmann lives a normal life attending high school and hanging out with friends. Yet, when she steps onto the stage, her strong and soulful voice grabs you by the chest and overwhelms you with emotion that belies her youthful appearance.
Kaufmann doesn’t remember a time when she wasn’t performing. Home videos of her singing Shania Twain songs into a turkey baster with all the gusto of a miniature diva showcase her drive to perform from a young age. Her first performance for an audience – that didn’t just consist of her parents in the living room at home – was her first grade talent show where she performed “Imagine” by the Beatles. Soon after, at the tender age of seven, she wowed an audience by belting out “The Prayer” at her first voice recital.
