LONG ISLAND CITY, New York – Eleven-year-old Lianah Sta. Ana is fast becoming New York’s next singing sensation.

Sta. Ana is the only Filipino to win the “Star Of Tomorrow” talent contest at the Apollo Theater twice in a row.

Known as the soul of American culture, the Apollo Theater has launched the careers of superstars like Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey among many others.

Sta. Ana is getting ready for another round of competition at the Apollo. If she wins the next round of competition in September, she will be the first Filipino to make it to the finals.

In April this year, Sta. Ana had her biggest break so far after performing in front of about 20,000 people at the Madison Square Garden during the New York Knicks' half-time show “Kidz Bop Sports Jamz” talent search. She won the grand prize.

Sta. Ana started singing when she was only 2 and a half years old. When she turned five, her parents brought her to the Staten Island Conservatory of Music, a premier school for voice lessons. She was told she couldn’t take lessons until she was six or seven. Her parents asked the school officials to at least listen to the then-five year-old sing.

“After 15 to 20 seconds na kumakanta siya, they said they’ll make an exception this time so that’s when it all started really,” said her father, Nathan.

Inspired by Charice

Sta. Ana quit singing for a year when she was about 9 but immediately went back after being inspired by YouTube sensation Charice.

After winning at the Apollo, she has guested on local mainstream TV shows and has been dubbed as “the little girl with a big voice,” just like her idol Charice.

“I’m really far from her level, but I’ll just keep on trying,” she humbly said.

Sta. Ana is representing TEAM USA at the 2010 World Championships Of Performing Arts (WCOPA) and is set to compete at the Talent Olympics from July 17 to 25 in Hollywood, California. Balitang America