10-Year-Old Vocal Prodigy Jackie Evancho Signs with SYCO/Columbia Records

10-Year-Old Vocal Prodigy Jackie Evancho Signs with SYCO/Columbia Records

"America's Got Talent" Discovery Inks Major Label Agreement

NEW YORK, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackie Evancho, the 10-year-old soprano prodigy whose performances on "America's Got Talent" won the hearts of millions and brought her into the national spotlight, has signed with SYCO/Columbia Records it was announced today.

"Jackie has a rare and precious talent," said Rob Stringer, Chairman, Columbia/Epic Label Group, "and we are excited to help develop that talent in her future recording career!"

"It's already been an amazing journey for Jackie and we are so proud of and happy for her," said Mike and Lisa Evancho, Jackie's parents. "Everyone at SYCO/Columbia shares our excitement about her future and we are pleased and honored to be working with such a great music company."

Since appearing on "America's Got Talent," Jackie's accumulated more than 30 million combined YouTube views and was the #1 Hot Google Search on August 10 and 11. She had the #1 video on YouTube the week of August 11 and has YouTube's biggest non-ad-supported video of 2010 (so far). The "America's Got Talent" finale on September 15 was the show's highest rated in three years.

Evancho catapulted into the "America's Got Talent" quarter finals round when her unaffectedly pure performance of Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro" (one of Maria Callas's signature arias) handily won the show's YouTube round, selected by online fans. An odds-on favorite with viewers, Jackie performed four times on "America's Got Talent" over the summer. Rocketing into the finals, her astonishing classical crossover soprano performances marked the arrival of a major musical talent.

"In my typically humble opinion, I've seen a lot of auditions over the last five years in Britain and America and the point of this show is to find undiscovered talent - proper, raw talent - that can go on to potentially be a huge star," said Piers Morgan, judge on "America's Got Talent." "I have never, ever, seen an act on this show, or the British show, or any of the other talent shows in the world that I have seen with more potential than Jackie Evancho."

Jackie Evancho first began singing at the age of 7 after watching "The Phantom of the Opera" on DVD. She launched her own YouTube channel and started vocal lessons when she was 8 years old. A Pittsburgh native, Jackie performed at local talent shows, going on to perform at high profile events including singing the national anthem at Pittsburgh Pirate games.

SOURCE SYCO/Columbia Records

SYCO/Columbia Records

CONTACT: Fran DeFeo, Sony Music Entertainment, +1-212-833-5784, fran.defeo@sonymusic.com

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