Celebration of Music - Talent Search

23-year-old Selena Neal has had a love for music since the 5th grade. Destiny sparked when Selena’s music teacher selected her for a solo part, leaving her with a craving to continue sharing her voice. The desire comes naturally though as her parents Emigdio and Rachel met in high school and often performed in choir together. So it was no surprise when 12-year-old Selena disappeared into her room to write her own lyrics. She hasn’t stopped since.

Fall of 2010, Selena was invited to audition for a performing arts school - John Robert Powers, now called Starz2Be. Once they saw her petite size and heard her voice, she was labeled the “little powerhouse with a blend of pop and country”. Immediately convinced of Selena’s gift as a singer, the staff set out to make her a well-rounded performer. Every Sunday for two years, she learned acting techniques from actress Susan Scher as well as received training for make-up and modeling under models Candace Hill and Lisa Shannon.

Starz2Be later sent her to audition for the nationally syndicated television series Aqua Kids in 2011. Selena became a cast member on the Telly Award-winning show for five seasons alongside singer/drummer Drew Bostwick of the band, The Hollow Party. She was even one of the singers in the remake of the show’s theme song.

As demands of independence took over, Selena had to fend for herself using her cosmetology license and leadership skills to manage salons in D.C. In 2017, a childhood friend of Rachel’s - artist manager Cindy da Silva introduced Selena to singer/guitarist Mike Montali of the band Hollis Brown. Mike became interested in Selena’s lyrics and helped her produce her first EP that year. They drew on artists like Kelly Clarkson and Lauren Daigle to create a unique sound of Pop, Country, and Contemporary Christian.

Fate brought middle school sweethearts CJ and Selena back together when they were 21 years old - inspiring the lyrics to one of the songs off her EP “Now that You’re with Me”. Summer 2018, that song played as Selena graced a brookside garden to become Selena Neal. Settled together near our Nation’s capital, Selena is committed to her purpose and proudly seeks to share her empowering gifts with the world.