Teen singer performs for Wadsworth library visitors
Gina Brooklyn sings, plays piano, guitar for community members
Vocalist and instrumentalist Gina Brooklyn, a Wadsworth High School sophomore, performed for visitors of Wadsworth Public Library Jan. 8. In addition to singing, Brooklyn also plays the piano, the guitar, the ukulele and the cajon. Photo by SCOTT KRISKA
WADSWORTH – Patrons of Wadsworth Public Library were treated to an afternoon of warm music and smooth vocals from a local teenager Jan. 8. Singer-songwriter Gina Brooklyn, 16, a sophomore at Wadsworth High School, entertained visitors when she performed some of her original songs. With each of the songs she performed, Brooklyn also provided instrumental accompaniment playing the piano, the guitar, the ukulele or the cajon (a type of percussion instrument).
Donald Harmon is the manager of adult and multimedia services at the library. He said this concert was part of the “Live at the Library” series of musical performances held once every month.
Harmon added other performances that are part of this series include guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto, the Wadsworth High School Vocalists and the Great Lakes Light Opera.
“We want our patrons to expect a good performance, but maybe something they haven’t seen before,” he said.
Brooklyn said she had been singing since the age of 5, playing piano for two years, playing guitar and ukulele for one year and playing the cajon for two years. Many of the songs she performs are songs she has created herself.
“I started writing songs about a year ago,” she said, recalling how she got started performing professionally. “My dad is in the music industry, so he knows how to market.”
Brooklyn has performed in many local venues in the Northeast Ohio area, including Sonnets Café in Wadsworth, House of Blues in Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Musica in Akron and Muggswigz Coffee and Tea in Canton. She also performed at the Bluebird Café in Nashville and has recorded at Studio City Studios in Los Angeles.
Gina Brooklyn started performing and recording songs under the name “Gina Marie.” However, she explained, she ended up having to change her name .
“My producer said to change my name because there are too many ‘Gina Maries’ in the music industry,” she said.
Some of the songs Brooklyn performed at the library concert were inspired by books she has read, including “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” “Of Mice and Men” and “Fahrenheit 451.” She also performed a song she was inspired to write by the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015.
More information about Gina Brooklyn, including upcoming concerts and samples of her music, can be found on her official Web site, ginabrooklyn.com.
Information about upcoming “Live at the Library” performances at Wadsworth Public Library can be found at wadsworthlibrary.com.
Donald Harmon is the manager of adult and multimedia services at the library. He said this concert was part of the “Live at the Library” series of musical performances held once every month.
Harmon added other performances that are part of this series include guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto, the Wadsworth High School Vocalists and the Great Lakes Light Opera.
“We want our patrons to expect a good performance, but maybe something they haven’t seen before,” he said.
Brooklyn said she had been singing since the age of 5, playing piano for two years, playing guitar and ukulele for one year and playing the cajon for two years. Many of the songs she performs are songs she has created herself.
“I started writing songs about a year ago,” she said, recalling how she got started performing professionally. “My dad is in the music industry, so he knows how to market.”
Brooklyn has performed in many local venues in the Northeast Ohio area, including Sonnets Café in Wadsworth, House of Blues in Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Musica in Akron and Muggswigz Coffee and Tea in Canton. She also performed at the Bluebird Café in Nashville and has recorded at Studio City Studios in Los Angeles.
Gina Brooklyn started performing and recording songs under the name “Gina Marie.” However, she explained, she ended up having to change her name .
“My producer said to change my name because there are too many ‘Gina Maries’ in the music industry,” she said.
Some of the songs Brooklyn performed at the library concert were inspired by books she has read, including “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” “Of Mice and Men” and “Fahrenheit 451.” She also performed a song she was inspired to write by the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015.
More information about Gina Brooklyn, including upcoming concerts and samples of her music, can be found on her official Web site, ginabrooklyn.com.
Information about upcoming “Live at the Library” performances at Wadsworth Public Library can be found at wadsworthlibrary.com.