Jill Charles is a native of the Elmira/Corning NY area. She has been singing for various organizations and has had the opportunities to meet influential people over the last twenty years. Her talent was discovered at the tender age of 8 in 1978 when she sang a solo part in THE WHIZ at her school.  From 1986-1987 she practiced and then played the lead in the Christian Musical Drama THE BRIDE for two performances at The Clemens Center in Elmira, NY.

She has been performing the National Anthem since her junior year in high school. Jill graduated in 1988 from Horseheads high school. In high school she performed the Anthem at several basketball and other sporting events. During her junior year in high school she took private voice lessons at Ithaca College for one year. She was a music major and was part of concert and select choirs. She had the opportunity to travel with them and compete against other choirs from the United States and Canada in Toronto Ontario, Canada and at Ithaca College. While she lived in NY she sang the National Anthem for the Elmira Pioneers minor league baseball team. She was so dedicated to singing the Anthem that she performed for the last time before moving to Lancaster on her actual wedding night.

In NY she ministered in concert, had many public speaking engagements and performed at organizations such as; Campus Life Youth for Christ, Christian Woman’s Business Clubs, Crisis Pregnancy Center Banquets, local churches, The Family Life Network Christian Radio Network and Center and has also sang at over 58 weddings since 1980.

She also sang at many festivals and holiday events. One popular festival is the Sparkle of Christmas held on Market Street in Corning, NY each Christmas. She had the opportunity to perform there in 1997 and 1998. In 1995 she worked with a local artist in Elmira, NY at Mega Sound Productions and recorded with them to create a radio and television jingle for one of the local hospitals. Her voice can be heard daily as the commercial is aired. One of Jill’s most exciting opportunities musically came in 1997 when she entered a talent search contest to perform at Darien Lake Amusement Park in Rochester, NY at Kingdom Bound. She was thrilled to find that she had been selected as one of five finalists out of 68 entries to showcase her talent in front of the music industry panel of judges.

Over the years she has had the privilege of meeting Christian artists: Twila  Paris, the group Audio Adrenaline, Jennifer Knapp, Rick Cua, Morgan Cryer, and Mark Harris of 4 Him. In 1998 she had the privilege of meeting Charlie Daniel’s.

In 1999 Jill was married and moved to Lancaster, PA. Since she has been here she has performed the National Anthem and God Bless America for the past four seasons for The Harrisburg Senators baseball team. On June 12th, 2001 Jill was invited to audition to sing the Anthem for The Buffalo Bills. In May of 2001 Jill was invited by Congressman Joseph Pitt’s office to minister in music at the Brunswick Hotel in Lancaster during the National Day of  Prayer. In December of 2001 Jill had the opportunity to sing the Anthem at the GMAC Bowl dinner in Mobile Alabama and also sang Christmas music with Mark Harris of 4 Him. In 2002 she was invited to sing at the C&MA church on route 30 in Lancaster through the Friendship Foundation during a service held where actress and author Lisa Welchel of the show THE FACTS OF LIFE was the guest speaker.

In august of 2002 Jill auditioned for The Hershey Bears hockey team to be their permanent Anthem singer for the 2002-2003 season and  she was selected unanimously to sing at all 40 games at The Giant Center. She was selected again the following year. In 2003 she performed in concert at Strawberry Square in Harrisburg for PNC Saturday through Clear channel  and BOB94.9 Country Radio between Nashville recording artists Brian McComas and Dirks Bentley. In July of 2004 she had competed in a talent competition on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and tied for first place. Also in July of 2004 she was selected as one of 64 finalists out of 1000 to compete in Charlotte, NC for a national recording contract through the INSPIRATION NETWORK. The show was aired in February of 2005 and can be seen on the internet at www.insp.com, Christian Artist Talent Search/ C.A.T.S., episode 6.

On April 23 Jill's most exciting career opportunity came when she was asked to open for country music artist Keith Anderson, Shelly Fairchild, and headliner Mark Chestnut at the Zembo Auditorium in Harrisburg PA. During the Bob Birthday Bash, for BOB 94.9 FM County Radio Station and Clear Channel Broadcasting. Jill had a 40 minute concert slot of which she sang seven cover songs and her new original hit song " I Can't Wait to Love You". The evening was a success as she enjoyed meeting all her new fans and signing hundreds of autographs.

On July 5th she sang the National Anthem and God Bless America during Honor the Troops Night at Clipper Magazine Stadium for the Lancaster Barnstormers. In 2002 Jill began writing her own music and is currently working on completing the project of producing her own CD. She is excited about continuing her music career.

Jill Moved to the state of Texas in 2006 and right away had opportunity to sing at many Military and local events.

She sang in concert at the annual Copperas Cove Kris Kindlemart in December of 2006. She has sang in concert and the National Anthem for several Prayer Breakfasts and Luncheons, special events, welcome home and change of command ceremonies at FT. Hood.

She has also sang at several festivals, Rodeos, and sporting events . She auditioned to sing the National Anthem and was selected to perform at the Round Rock Express Baseball Stadium. She also has sung at many special/holiday events locally and in the state of Texas.

Jill was in concert at several Oprey houses, churches ,both local and military and also sang for several non-profit organizations such as Cancer survivors, National Crime Victims, Angel Tree to name a few.

In 2007 Jill sang at friend and District Attorney David Castillo and now wife Regina Castillo’s wedding of the year at the Falkenstein Castle in Marble Falls, Texas.

Jill has been honored with several awards from 2006-until present from:
The 20th Eng. 36thBD, 4TH ID,1st Cav. Div.and III Corps. Headquarters at FT. Hood. She was also honored at several local events and local radio stations fro her achievements in singing, ministering and performing in concert and winning several competitions.

In 2007 Jill was in concert for the annual Champs Spring Concert at Copperas Cove Bulldawgs Stadium. She performed her two original songs and the National Anthem. Her two originals, I Can’t Wait to Love You and Dream Big were aired for a month on Lampasas Country Radio Q102FM. During that time she did a live radio interview with the radio station.

In 2007 Jill was honored as Volunteer of the month at III Corps Headquarters in FT. Hood for her music and her time dedicated to the community and abroad for other efforts.

In September of 2008 Jill sang at the annual Back to school bash at Grace Christian Center in Killeen, Texas. To check out the church and the youth ministries and that event for photos go to: www.gccrew.com and www.gracechristiancenter.com

In 2008 Jill was honored to minister alongside of Christian Rap Group, GRITTY and also local Christian Rap group REC at Hillside Ministries Hip Hop outreach in Killeen, Texas.

From January to September 2008 Jill was the lead female vocalist for the band the GTO’s. Jill’s friend and living legend Neal Sharpe was the lead male vocalist. The band played 50's,60's 70's music and in a short time became a hit in the area. Playing at local pubs such as O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Temple and Playing songs like We’re an American Band, Just my imagination, I will survive, Respect, etc. During the time they made a 8 song CD.

In 2008 Jill entered several competitions:
America’s got talent, Songs for the Soul of Service, The Colgate Country Showdown and Operation Rising Star. She traveled to Dallas with the USO and 11 other contestants for America’s got Talent. She won 1st place locally for The Colgate Country Showdown and advanced to State. Songs for the Soul of Service is an Army wide song writing competition.

Jill took 1st place in the inspiration category and third place overall. The contest will begin its plans of recoding their CD, concerts and press release information in 2009.

Jill won 1st place locally for Operation Rising Star in FT. Hood, Texas and was selected as one of 12 in the nation to compete at the National Final competition in FT. Belvoir, Virginia. She left with having had the time of her life and 11 amazing new friends. The show aired from November 12th thru the 14th of 2008. To see the show go to: Oprisngstar.com

Jill had amazing support from home towns in the state of New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, California and Florida. Many newspaper articles were published on her accomplishments. To see the articles go to:
www.stargazette.com
www.lancasterneweranewspaper.com
www.forthoodherald.com
www.forthoodsentinal.com
www.covedailyherald.com
www.kileendailyherald.com

To see other news interviews and all the shows from Operation Rising Star go to: www.myfox.com and search for the show. Also see; www.army.mil and www.pentegonchannel.com

Jill has had the privilege of meeting many Christian and Country artists and producers in the music industry on local, regional and National levels such as:

• Gretchen Wilson
• Melissa Jones
• Keith Anderson
• Shelly Fairchild
• Audio Adrenaline
• Jennifer Knapp
• Twila Paris
• Mark Harris (previously of 4HIM)
• Mark Chestnut
• Jackie Valasquez
• Andy Baldwin (The Bachelor)
• Tommy Stanley (Nashville Star)
• Nigel Caaro (America’s got Talent and American Idol Rewind)
• retired CSM of the Army Jack Tiley.

Through sporting events, the military and her husband SSG Robert Charles, Jill has meet former Coach of the Chicago Bears Mike Dika, former player with the Oakland Raiders Kenny Stabler and former coach who made famous the moving Remember the Titans Herman Boone, two Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders.

Jill performed in concert at the Palmer theater in FT. Hood, Texas for the annual Christmas Show on December 12th,2008 along with the Arizona Cardinals cheerleaders. It was a success as the event turned out to have over 950 people.

Jill looks forward to welcoming home troops to FT. Hood in 2009 both in song and spirit and plans to fill up her calendar while she remains in Texas.