User:Rinaelyse

Charina Elyse Kimes was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 12, 1994 to Mark and Verona Rozier. Charina began singing at the young age of 6 at her church, Inner City Ministries. She was the youngest member to ever join her church choir. While being the youngest member in the choir, Charina was the soprano section leader. At the age of 7 Charina began taking private voice, piano and drum lessons at the Hill House Association in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Charina later knew that her calling in life would be music related. While in elementary school she participated in talent shows and placed in every one of them. During her fifth grade year at Fort Pitt elementary school Charina auditioned for Rogers Creative and Performing Arts middle school, and was accepted. While at Rogers Creative and Performing Arts High School she was trained classically, but had a strong burning desire for jazz. As a young child growing up her mother would play Johnny Hartman, Lena Horne, Nat Cole, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson. Charina’s love and passion for jazz grew immensely. During Charina’s sixth grade year she was asked to sing the National Anthem for the 100th Clock Dedication Ceremony at Fort Pitt Elementary school. Shortly after that Charina started up lessons at the African American Music Institute in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, where she studied jazz voice and piano. Charina took the initiative to reach out and sing at various clubs, lounges, and restaurants around the City of Pittsburgh: The August Wilson Center, Little E’s, Shadow lounge, Ava Lounge, Katz Plaza, and Cabaret at Theatre Square. Being known as one of the youngest jazz vocalists opened up doors and gave her various opportunities. Also being mentored from artists like Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Phyllis Hyman, Eric Defade, and Rachelle Ferrell helped her along the way with her studies. In October 2010, at the age of 16, Charina was asked to be a background vocalist for the R&B sensation AL B Sure! This year was also the beginning of her High School Journey at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Pennsylvania. While at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School Charina joined various choirs. Charina was also a 3 year member of the Junior Mendelssohn Choir. During her third and final year she was nominated for the Barbra Cass award. From October 2011 to April 2012, Charina was involved in a research study/clinic with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cleveland Clinic on preventing and curing Alzheimer’s disease through music. Charina called that experience one of the highlights of her life. In January of 2012 Charina participated in an R&B workshop/concert with professor Winston Maccow and Annette Phillip from Berklee College of Music. Charina graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in June 2012. Charina now is a Junior at Berklee College of Music majoring in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology.