On Sunday, a Greenwood Community High School senior let his voice be heard with hopes that it could be heard again.
Brandon Rosado was among those trying to gain notice while auditioning for NBC’s talent show, “The Voice,” at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get a call-back,” said Rosado, who was also a running back for Greenwood’s regional champion football team. “I only auditioned one song, and it was about 30 seconds long. It’s kind of a bum-out moment, but there are hundreds and hundreds of people there.
“After everyone in our group performs, a producer (from the show) sits us down to talk to us. No one in my group got a call-back, and there was only one person in the group ahead of us who got a call-back.”
One of approximately 6,000 persons expected to audition on Sunday, Rosado was in a group of 15. Each got his or her chance to go into a room and sing a portion of their chosen song for 30 seconds.
Assigned to take part in the 2 p.m. session, Rosado didn’t audition until 3:30. He and his mother, Della, arrived at Bankers Life Fieldhouse around noon, waiting with Rosado until he got to sing in front of a judge.
It was not one of the four television judges — Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson.
Rosado’s musical choice was “Palace” by Sam Smith.
Those who received a call-back auditioned for a second time later in the day on Sunday.
“The Voice” is searching for finalists for the 2018 season, its 14th, which begins Feb. 26. Other upcoming open-call auditions such as the one Sunday are scheduled in Boston (Jan. 27), Phoenix (Feb. 4) and Houston (Feb. 17).
Despite the disappointment, Rosado won’t stop pursuing music as his passion.
He has been accepted at Indiana State University but is unsure where he’ll attend college. He plans to major in music and will continue to perform no matter where he attends college.
“I’ve always loved singing. I started choir in the eighth grade, but other than that I’ll sing in the shower, at home. I’ll just sing anywhere because it’s always been a huge passion of mine. I’ve always wanted to be like the big-time singers,” he said.
At Greenwood, Rosado is a bass baritone for the vocal jazz group, JADE, as well as a member of its advanced mixed show choir. He also is going to be a Maude’s customer in the school musical, “Bye, Bye, Birdie,” and expects to play other minor roles, too.
“Brandon is a special kid and he has a lot of natural talent, too,” said Dan Borns, the choral director and theater director at Greenwood High School. “I know Brandon enjoys music as much as he does sports. He’s just a good kid who works hard and is like a steel trap remembering notes.
“Not a lot of the kids remember notes the way he does, but Brandon has always been that way.”
Told during football season by his mom that “The Voice” would be holding local auditions in Indianapolis, Rosado spent weeks giving it some thought.
Only last week did he decide to go through with it.
Woodmen football coach Mike Campbell had seven members of his team involved in show choir this fall. They helped sing the national anthem before the team’s Homecoming game against Paoli.
The coach appreciated the lightheartedness Rosado brought to his program, especially this season as the Woodmen advanced all the way to the Class 4A semistate.
“I think it helped bring everybody (together) because it added levity to what we were doing,” Campbell said. “Brandon is a showman, no doubt about that. There was never a dull moment when he was around.”
