Heather Youmans
Heather Youmans is an American dancer and singer-songwriter known for her soundtrack work on the feature films, "Moondance Alexander" (2007), "Flicka 2" (2010) and "" (2011). Youmans recently appeared on "I Can See Your Voice" episode 4 (FOX), other live performances include a UNICEF benefit opening solo ahead of headliners Sting and Natalie Cole in 2005, a National Anthem performance for the Los Angeles Kings on New Year's Eve 2019, and "Parade" magazine's, She Rocks Spotlight Series, in 2020. Her work has been featured in "American Songwriter" magazine, "Forbes Women" and "Parade" magazine profiled her career  and music in 2020. Youmans holds an MBA and is publicist with Fender Guitars, she has written for the "Los Angeles Times", and the "Orange County Register". 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, as well as Nellie in "Annie Get Your Gun" in 2004 at the Welk Resort Theatre. In 2004, she won first place in the Del Mar TV Idol Contest, Junior Division, at age twelve. 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. 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", and Best Vocal Female in 2010 for her role as Jo in "Little Women". 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). 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). These accomplishments led to featured artist performances on the soundtrack for Moondance Alexander (2007). Youmans' single , "Girl to Change Your World", was a (2011) hit on Radio Disney, 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. 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). The musical stage-play never made it out of workshop and has yet to achieve the secondary goal of becoming a viable Broadway offering. This association with Weir Brothers Productions led to additional soundtrack features in the films  Moondance Alexander (2007), "Flicka 2" (2010) and "" (2011). She also worked at Legoland CA Resort as leader singer in the Character Dance Party show in 2013. While concurrently studying journalism and music, Youmans auditioned and stacked up credits in Southern California regional theater, wrote for national and regional newspapers on entertainment topics, and has held a long term performing artist relationship with Legoland California. She has produced and hosted an entertainment format radio show, interviewed entertainment industry legends, and ran a marketing campaign for Jon MacLennan's iBook, "Melodic Expressions: The Art of the Line" (2012). She works as a  communications professional in Los Angeles. Theatre awards. 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. 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". 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. 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. In 2012, she became involved in editing and promotion for "Melodic Expressions: The Art of the Line" an interactive iBook and iPad instructional publication for experienced guitarists. 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, Drew Carey and Brooke Shields, Grammy Award-winning musicians David Sanborn, Jeff Hamilton for the "Orange County Register", and her interview with Grammy nominee Brian McKnight was additionally published in the "Los Angeles Register". Earlier interviews include, Chita Rivera for the "Los Angeles Times" and interviews with Ann Wilson and Martina McBride for the Los Angeles Times Media Group's "Daily  Pilot".