Southern York County Life

Stewartstown singer keeps up dream

Fifteen-year-old Dana Zbozien, a former pop singer, decided to take on country.

During the week, she is like any other teen-age girl. Between classes at York Country Day School, soccer practice and other school projects as well as homework, Stewartstown resident Dana Zbozien is busy with the activities of most tenth-graders. But during the weekend and most of the summer, this 15-year-old lives her dream--to perform in front of live audiences.

A singer since she was a child, Zbozien’s career began in the church choir. She also participated in summer musicals at her Stewartstown church. For more than a year, she has been performing at different venues--from coffee houses and festivals to fund-raisers and carnivals within York and southern York County. She has even traveled to surrounding counties for performances. “My mom says I am a natural-born entertainer,” Zbozien said. “I need to be the center of attention on stage.”

She began singing at the age of three or four, for friends and family. She has since fine-tuned her craft from pop to mostly country. “I was reluctant to change from pop country to just country,” she said. “But now I am having a lot of success with the country music.” Her music varies--from modern songs, like those of Faith Hill, to older tunes from Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette. At times she is backed by a band, or she uses a track tape. And with the many young performers making it big in the music industry these days, Zbozien knows she can do so as well. “I got inspired watching singers on television and I knew I could do it,” she said.

Her parents are her biggest supporters. The Zboziens promote her through word-of-mouth, a Web site and T-shirt sales. “Dana came along in our 16th year of marriage,” Jean Zbozien said. “We were past our need to grow up. She’s our pride and joy.” A retired teacher, Jean Zbozien spends much of her time overseeing her daughter’s career. “For us, her performances are just a lot of fun,” Jean Zbozien said.

And, at times, expensive. Between the dancing and singing lessons as well as the equipment her daughter needs for her shows, Jean Zbozien has invested quite a bit. Recently, Zbozien made a demo tape with cover songs to increase her credibility. Dana also plans to take guitar lessons.

With the stiff competition in the music industry as one teen-age singer after another pops up in videos, Zbozien knows she needs to stand out to get noticed. “I consider myself a modern country singer,” she said. “I like my personality to speak for me.” She does so in her performances. With a commanding stage presence, Zbozien uses direct eye contact and sings directly to the audience, her mother said. “Many people sing well,” Jean Zbozien said. “But they don’t put the emotion, body language and expression in it that she does.”

In June, Zbozien performed during Brown’s Orchard’s Strawberry Festival. This October, she hopes to give a repeat performance during the Apple Harvest Festival. “People really loved her,” Brown’s Orchard co-owner Nona Brown said. “She has a lot of personality and energy.”

Even at a young age, she tries to keep her talent in perspective. “I feel so blessed by God for throwing everything at my feet,” Zbozien said, and added that she wants to reciprocate through her involvement with local fund-raisers. Even with a singing career, Zbozien keeps school her first priority. Although she hopes to study music in college, it is too soon yet to plan. “I want to go as far as I can.” she said. “But my education comes first.”

Visit the Dana Fan Club Website for more information and to see where Dana will be performing.

Source: York Weekly Record (we obtain permission for external material)
Posted by Dan Baldwin on 10/22/2001 at 03:36 PM in News

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