By CASEY NEILL
DANDENONG student Rachael Thompson started her singing career with nursery rhymes.
Last week, the St John’s College year nine student wowed the X Factor’s judges and audience with her rendition of the Gabrielle Aplin song Please Don’t Say You Love Me.
The Endeavour Hills 15-year-old received a standing ovation and judge Ronan Keating jumped on the desk and ran on stage to hug her.
“It was really unexpected,” she said.
“He asked for my name again and said ’I want to remember this day so I can say I was here at the start of your career’.
“I was completely over the moon. He’s always been my favourite judge.”
Please Don’t Say You Love Me and Aplin’s album English Rain rocketed to number one on iTunes following Rachael’s performance, and Aplin contacted her on Twitter.
“I was actually really shocked that she heard about me but really happy that she had,” she said.
“That song’s been one of my favourite songs for about a year now.”
The audition was the first step toward a career in the music industry – a career she’s been dreaming of since the age of six.
“I was very young and I was singing with my sister – just songs that were on the radio and nursery rhymes – that’s how it started,” she said.
“I went to singing classes when I was six years old.
“Before my audition I was a little bit nervous with the sweaty palms, and all.
“When I got up on stage it was like me and the judges and no one else.
“I’m so happy that I was actually living my dream.
“I hope that I get signed by a good record company and people like my music.”
Rachael isn’t worried about juggling school and singing.
“I’ve been practising my music and keeping up with my homework for years so you could say I’m an expert,” she said.
“I enjoy the reaction I get and how people can connect with what I do and how much they like it, and I like to feel like I’m doing it for the audience.
“I’m really excited, actually, to be a name that everyone would know.”
Principal Andrew Walsh said Rachael’s performance had wowed the school.
“She is a relatively quiet student who has kept this incredible talent hidden,” he said.
“The X Factor has certainly uncovered a hidden gem and the whole of the St John’s community, all students and staff and friends of St John’s, are right behind her.”
