Red Lion alumni DaNica Shirey makes Top 8 on ‘The Voice’

By Rachel Lau
Staff Writer

DaNica Shirey, 2007 graduate, is making a statement in song. As she progressed up the ladder of the show, “The Voice”, those who knew her at her alma mater remember her fondly as someone who loved to sing.

Miss Katherine White, a math teacher at Red Lion High School had DaNica. She taught her CP Algebra 2, and had said she participated well in the class.

“I knew she was into music,” said White, “she sang at the Apollo Center and cut me a Demo CD that was signed by her.”

“I’m proud of her,” she said about the competition. Along with many other students and teachers from Red Lion, she was surprised to hear a past graduate was on a major singing competition.

History teacher, Mr. David Danner also had the Red Lion star. He knew she was into music at the time bringing up that she’d take trips to singing camps.

Danner recalled when he had her and she performed at the school’s talent show. “She crushed everybody, just anialated them.” He didn’t have much knowledge or interest in “The Voice” until he heard of DaNica’s audition and success. Flipping on the show, he didn’t recognize her, and he couldn’t get over her being on it. “Wow,” he said after watching her perform.

“It was really cool having a Red Lion person on TV,” said secretary Mrs. Sindy Smeltzer. She knew DaNica from some of her visits to the office and knew that she was into music. “Her being on the show made it more interesting.” Smeltzer attended the latest concert DaNica performed at the Apollo Center. “It was awesome.”

Not only was DaNica into music, but she was also interested in art. Mr. Dave Hopkins taught her drawing class. Last year, he had seen her at Lowe’s and she revealed she was going to audition for “The Voice”. “She’s the only reason I watch the stupid show,” he said. He loved her performance of “Radiohead” on the show. “It blew me away.”

Danica progressed to the top 8, but missed the top five.  She then returned to York to give a mini concert inside the Pullo Center, singing four songs that she prepared for “The Voice.” She sang Whitney Houston’s “I have Nothing” and Radiohead’s “Creep.” She also performed “Help Me” by Legendary Joni Mitchell and “Big White Room” by Jessie J.  

In the future, Shirey plans to work with Pharell Willilams, her voice coach from the show and play concerts locally, including ones at the Pullo Center early next year

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