Young former Saultite stars in Family Channel music series

Sixteen-year-old Keara Graves loves Ella Fitzgerald.

She also loves Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra.

And young Canadian talent Nikki Yanofsky is an idol she’d love to meet one day.

But to Graves, Fitzgerald will always be her Queen.

It’s pretty exciting for her, one might then imagine, to find herself in the spotlight on a television series that requires her to sing.

The former Saultite portrays Leia on the Family Channel’s Lost and Found Music Studios, a show which follows a group of young musicians as they write and perform as part of a one-of-a-kind music program.

“I’m so thankful that I got this opportunity because it opens a new door for me,” she told SooToday. “I’m discovering new passions that I never thought I would find.”

Although Graves and her family relocated to Whitby, Ontario when she was just a wee child, she told us that she visits the Sault every summer to spend time with her grandparents and other family.

In fact, it was her grandmother, Marcia Greco, that first introduced her to Ella Fitzgerald.

“Her style influenced my own style. I wasn’t really sure when I started singing what direction I was going to take. So I actually listened to one of her old recordings, and she pointed me towards Ella Fitzgerald,” she said.

“I absolutely love it and I feel the most comfortable singing in that genre. I feel connected with the classics.”

Encouraged to explore a variety of creative outlets by her mother Kathryn Greco who operated L’Image Model Management in Sault Ste. Marie, Keara began acting at age four.

What sets her role on Lost and Found Music Studios apart from previous work, she said, is the show is very loosely scripted, affording the young cast the opportunity to improvise.

While she did receive some training in improv during her time at drama school, Graves said the process is enjoyable but relatively new to her.

“I never would have thought that I would enjoy improv so much. But now I feel like it makes the show much more natural than scripted,” she said. “I like doing scripted things, but I would definitely consider taking another job like this.”

Launched this past January, new episodes of Lost and Found Music Studios air Fridays at 6 p.m. on the Family Channel.

Each episode includes original music and cast performances which can be seen by visiting the show's website.

“It’s great to wake up everyday and do what I love,” Graves said of her experience on the show. “Practicing my craft is so important to me and I’m so thankful that I get to do this now.”

Fans are encouraged to follow Keara Graves on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.