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Heather Youmans
Heather Youmans sings at 2011 Relay For Life in San Diego, California
Background information
Birth nameHeather Anne Youmans
Born (1992-05-16) May 16, 1992 (age 32)
Vista, California, U.S.
GenresRock, pop, country, soul
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, actor, journalist
Instrumentsvocals, bass
Years active2002–present
Labels
  • Caption Records
  • Weir Brothers Entertainment
  • Suspicious Love Productions
Websitewww.heatheryoumans.com
Draft: Heather Youmans
Education MBA
Alma materCalifornia State University, Long Beach (2013)
Television


Heather Youmans is an American principal and session singer. Opening for a UNICEF benefit concert in 2005, featuring Sting and Natalie Cole, cemented Youmans' future goals for the stage. Opportunities arose with 20th Century Fox motion pictures, both as a singer and songwriter, and Youmans has had a long running association with Disney (since 2005). Youmans completed a tour of China, Disney 100 Wonderland in 2024, and enjoys singing the national anthem for professional sports teams (MLB and NHL); video footage of her anthem performances have gone viral twice.


Heather Youmans is an American singer-songwriter, actress, tap dancer and journalist, her work has been featured in American Songwriter magazine,[1] Forbes Women and Parade magazine profiled her career and music in 2020.[2][3][4]

An opening solo for a UNICEF benefit in 2005, headlined by Sting and Natalie Cole,[2] led to soundtrack work in the films, Flicka 2 (2010) and Marley & Me: The Puppy Years (2011).[5]

While earning her MBA, Youmans wrote for the Los Angeles Times,[6] and the Orange County Register,[7] and later served as a publicist for Fender Guitars.[8]

Youmans tap dancing on I Can See Your Voice episode 4 (FOX),[9][10] convinced the judges that she is a professional dancer,[11]

a video depicting her delivery of the national anthem and dealing with acoustic delay effect of a large stadium (Oakland Coliseum) went viral on social media in 2021.[12]


Early life

Youmans began landing theatre roles at age ten, such as Amarylis in The Music Man, Marta in The Sound of Music in 2003,[13] as well as Nellie in Annie Get Your Gun in 2004 at the Welk Resort Theatre.[14][15] In 2004, she won first place in the Del Mar TV Idol Contest, Junior Division, at age twelve.[16] On November 30, 2005, Youmans performed an opening solo at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Headlining acts for the evening included, Sting, Chris Botti and Natalie Cole.[1][17]

Youmans attended Rancho Buena Vista High School and was active in the Associated Student Body, dance and drama programs. In 2009, she won the MACY Award for Highest Achievement and Best Supporting Vocal-Female for her role as Rusty in Footloose,[18] and Best Vocal Female in 2010 for her role as Jo in Little Women.[19]

Education

Youmans holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication with a music minor (classical and jazz vocal at Bob Cole Conservatory of Music). She graduated magna cum laude from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) in 2013, and graduated with an MBA at CSULB with an emphasis in marketing. During her undergraduate studies, Youmans created and hosted Heartbreakers: The Women of Rock, a radio format program on KBeach.org (2011-2013). While earning her MBA, Youmans wrote for the Los Angeles Times,[6] the Orange County Register,[7] and later served as a publicist for Fender Guitars.[8]

Career

In 2005, Youmans earned a voice-over part, playing Becky Thatcher in Disney's Tom Sawyer's Island and the following year, won the part of Shana the Rock Star in a pre-production musical Teen Witch the Musical (2007).[20][21] These accomplishments led to featured artist performances on the soundtrack for Moondance Alexander (2007).[22] Youmans' single, "Girl to Change Your World", was a (2011) hit on Radio Disney,[5] and it is one of the two Youmans songs included in the film Love by Design (2014), starring Giulia Nahmany, David Oaks and Jane Seymour.[23][24][25]

The Teen Witch the Musical project was successful in its primary goal of reproducing the missing soundtrack for the Halloween classic film Teen Witch (1989).[26] The musical stage-play never made it out of workshop and has yet to achieve the secondary goal of becoming a viable Broadway offering.[27] This association with Weir Brothers Productions led to additional soundtrack features in the films Moondance Alexander (2007), Flicka 2 (2010) and Marley & Me: The Puppy Years (2011).[5]

While concurrently studying journalism and music, Youmans auditioned and stacked up credits in Southern California regional theater and wrote for national and regional newspapers on entertainment topics. [5] She has produced and hosted an entertainment format radio show,[5] interviewed entertainment industry legends,[6][28][29][30] and ran a marketing campaign for Jon MacLennan's iBook, Melodic Expressions: The Art of the Line (2012).[31] She works as a communications professional in Los Angeles.

Theatre and live performances

Beverly Hills opener

An opening solo for a UNICEF benefit in 2005, headlined by Sting and Natalie Cole,[2] led to soundtrack work in the films, Flicka 2 (2010) and Marley & Me: The Puppy Years (2011).[5]

American Idol

In 2012, Youmans performed "Some Kind of Wonderful" at the American Idol San Diego competition and won a golden ticket after a unanimous decision from the judges (Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson), which advanced her to the Hollywood Week competition.[5] Youmans was eliminated during Hollywood Week in Season 11. She attributes the elimination to nerves and an ambitious music selection, Heart’s "Crazy on You".[32]


Recorded and broadcast

In addition to performing in nationally televised commercials, Youmans has been involved in several cutting-edge media projects. In 2005, Youmans played the part of Becky Thatcher in Disney's Tom Sawyer's Island, a voice-over project.[5] The performance was delivered via hand-held computers issued to visitors on Disneyland's Tom Sawyer's Island. A pilot project, titled "Available Light", was one of the first to test Sony Blu-ray camera technology.

Soundtracks

Singles

  • "Girl To Change Your World" (2011)[24][40]
  • "Girl To Change Your World - The Remixes" (2011)[40]
  • "In My Arms" (2012)[41]
  • "My Kind of Trouble LIVE at the Recordium" (2019)[42]
  • "Is It Just Me LIVE at the Recordium" (2019)
  • "Shine" (2019)[1][43][3]
  • "You Made Me Hate Love Songs LIVE at YouTube Space" (2020)[44]
  • "A Little Closer To Happy" (2021)
  • "Worth It" (2021)

Journalism

Youmans writes about entertainment topics, specifically dance, music, theatre and film. Her Southern California beat includes covering venues, such as the Orange County Fair, the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, the Playboy Jazz Festival, Sunset Jazz at Newport, the Hollywood Bowl and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Her freelance position with Freedom Communications has afforded interviews with: George Lopez,[45] Drew Carey and Brooke Shields,[30] Grammy Award-winning musicians David Sanborn,[45] Jeff Hamilton[46] for the Orange County Register, and her interview with Grammy nominee Brian McKnight was additionally published in the Los Angeles Register.[47][48] Earlier interviews include, Chita Rivera for the Los Angeles Times[6] and interviews with Ann Wilson[28] and Martina McBride[29] for the Los Angeles Times Media Group's Daily Pilot.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Daily Discovery: Heather Youmans, "Shine" « American Songwriter". American Songwriter. 2019-11-13. Archived from the original on 2020-03-16. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Brunner, Jeryl (2020-09-30). "Why This Successful Singer-Songwriter Won't Give Up Her Day Job". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Whitmore, Laura B. (2020-10-06). "You're Gonna Feel the Joy of Heather Youmans' Video for 'Shine'". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays. Archived from the original on 2020-10-07. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
  4. "Heather Youmans Releases 'Shine' As Love Letter To Younger Self". Headliner Magazine. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 O'Connor, Caitlin (24 January 2012). "CSULB student gets golden ticket on 'American Idol'". Daily 49er. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Youmans, Heather (10 November 2011). "Youmans: Chita Rivera to perform hits from a storied career". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Youmans, Heather (29 May 2013). "Newport Jazz Festival goes down smooth". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Buttonow, Leslie (2019-05-01). "Front and Center: Heather Youmans, PR & Communications Manager, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation – the WiMN - The Women's International Music Network". thewimn.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-26. Retrieved 2020-04-26.CS1 maint: unfit url (link)
  9. Heather Youmans (2020-10-28). The Tap Dancer Performs "Youngblood" By 5 Seconds Of Summer - Season 1 Ep. 4 - I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE. FOX. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  10. Upadhyay, Nayna (2020-11-16). "EXCLUSIVE - Heather Youmans says 'I Can See Your Voice' is all about finding 'singers that America needs to know'". MEAWW. Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  11. "Column: Singer from Vista stuns panel in new Fox reality series". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2020-11-14. Archived from the original on 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  12. Fowler, Kate (2021-07-01). "Woman Reveals Shocking Reality of Singing in a Stadium With Sound Delay". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  13. Hopper, Rob. "The Sound of Music". San Diego Playbill. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  14. Hopper, Rob (2003). "Annie Get Your Gun". San Diego Playbill. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  15. Krugen, Pam (3 September 2003). "Strong leads, chemistry make Welk's 'Get Your Gun' a winner". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  16. "Del Mar TV Idol Contest 2004". Del Mar TV Foundation. 10 October 2004. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014. Heather Youmans (1st place)
  17. Schnaidt, Joe (4 December 2005). "Lighting The Way To Hope On Rodeo Drive". Canyon News. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014. BEVERLY HILLS — Wednesday, November 30 illuminated Rodeo Drive at Wilshire Boulevard for the annual holiday lighting ceremony with celebrities, sponsors and a ray of hope for children facing poverty, health risks and poor education.
  18. "2009 MACY Award Winners". Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  19. "2010 MACY Award Winners". MACY Awards. 22 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  20. 20.0 20.1 "Teen Witch The Musical". Weir Brothers Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  21. 21.0 21.1 "Heather Youmans: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  22. "Moondance Alexander Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Giulia Nahmany (20 May 2014). "Giulia Nahmany Love by Design Premiere at Newport Beach Film Festival". Giulia Nahmany YouTube Channel. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  24. 24.0 24.1 "Heather Youmans - Girl To Change Your World". Caption Records YouTube Channel. 7 February 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  25. "Girl to Change Your World: Releases". AllMusic. 2009. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  26. "Heather Youmans - "Never Gonna Be the Same Again" Studio City Sound LIVE". Studio City Sound. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  27. Wood, Jennifer M. "18 Fun Facts About 'Teen Witch'". mental_floss. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  28. 28.0 28.1 Youmans, Heather (2 August 2012). "O.C. Fair gets some Heart". Daily Pilot. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  29. 29.0 29.1 Youmans, Heather. "Music for most every taste". Daily Pilot. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  30. 30.0 30.1 Youmans, Heather (17 July 2013). "Brooke Shields takes the helm of 'Chicago'". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  31. Malik, Abhay (8 May 2012). "Alumnus Jon MacLennan's iBook 'Melodic Expressions' advances guitar instruction". Daily Bruin. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014. Heather Youmans, an “American Idol” contestant and freelance journalist, helped edit the iBook and has expressed excitement over the finished product as well.
  32. O'Connor, Caitlin (12 February 2012). "CSULB student loses shot at 'Idol' fame". Daily 49er. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014. Still, she said she’s not ashamed of the footage. “Yeah, it sucks,” she said. “Everybody has a bad day. Yeah, it’s unfortunate that they showed me having a bad day, but what can you do?”
  33. Whitmore, Laura B. (2020-04-22). "Meet This Week's She Rocks Spotlight Series Artists, Including Grammy-Nominated Headliner Mindi Abair". Parade. Archived from the original on 2020-04-27. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  34. Flicka 2 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (MP3/CD). Weir Brothers Entertainment. 4 May 2010. ASIN B003JE2EIU.
  35. Marley & Me The Puppy Years music from and inspired by the motion picture (MP3). Weir Brothers Entertainment. 9 August 2011. ASIN B005JBC14S.
  36. "Newport Beach Film Festival". IMDb. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015. First-time Filmmaker: Winner
  37. "High Strung". Soundtrack.net. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  38. "'High Strung' Soundtrack Announced". FILM MUSIC REPORTER. 9 March 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  39. Kristyn Burtt (30 March 2016). "Heather Youmans at the Red Carpet Premiere for "High Strung" #HighStrungMovie". YouTube.com. Mingle Media TV. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  40. 40.0 40.1 "Weir Brothers Entertainment: Albums". last.fm. Weir Brothers Entertainment. 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014. Girl to Change Your World singles
  41. MacLennan, Jon (16 July 2013). "In My Arms Jon MacLennan (feat. Heather Youmans)". Jon MacLennan YouTube Channel. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  42. "Heather Youmans Gets Honest And Real In "My Kind Of Trouble"". BuzzMusic. 2019-08-13. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  43. "Premiere: Singer-Songwriter Heather Youmans Reveals Latest Single "Shine" + Music Video". Elicit Magazine. 2019-10-18. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  44. "Emerging Headliner: Heather Youmans". Headliner Magazine. 2020-02-25. Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  45. 45.0 45.1 Youmans, Heather (21 August 2013). "Change in tempo for Playboy Jazz Festival". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  46. Youmans, Heather (9 July 2013). "Sunset Jazz series kicks off in Newport". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  47. Youmans, Heather (29 May 2014). "Chaka Khan, Brian McKnight noteworthy newcomers at Newport Beach Jazz Festival". Los Angeles Register.
  48. Youmans, Heather (28 May 2014). "Chaka Khan, Brian McKnight noteworthy newcomers at Newport Beach Jazz Festival". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on 29 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.

External links

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