Jillian Macuda and Stefanie Berecz primp for a photo shoot to promote Scandelle Us.Jillian Macuda talks with Stefanie Berecz before a recent show at Tommy's Place on Chicago's South Side. The women, along with Tiffany Turner, are members of the group Scandelle Us, which has a compact disc available online.Jillian Macuda, right, gets a hug from fellow Scandelle Us singer Tiffany Turner before a recent show. The singing group has gained a strong following in the Chicago area.Tiffany Turner, from left, Jillian Macuda and Stefanie Berecz sing on stage during a recent weekend performance.
One never knows when or where that big break will come.For aspiring singer and dancer Jillian Macuda, her shot at what she hopes will be the big time originated from a list of audition opportunities on an Internet site she saw in early December.In a few, generalized lines, the ad sought a female singer, age 18 to 20, with a strong commercial voice and appearance and contemporary dancing skills, extensive performing experience preferred.
That description fit the 19-year-old Naperville woman to a T. For as long as she could remember, Macuda wanted to be a professional singer. Her background already included performances with Young Naperville Singers, a children's theater company, and voice and piano lessons. A 2001 graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School, she had starring roles in school plays and was a member of the pompon squad and dance team. Last summer she performed in a musical review at Six Flags Great America.
After submitting the requisite photograph and resume, she was called in to audition for Scandelle Us, a 2-year-old singing group described as J.Lo meets Destiny's Child. The trio's music is a mix of hip-hop, pop, rhythm and blues, dance, rap and Latin.
She met Scandelle Us' manager, William Messner, on Dec. 7 in his Forest Park studio and bowled him over with her rendition of Christina Aguilera's "Come on Over Baby." The next day Messner called and offered her the job.
"I was so excited," said Macuda, a sophomore at North Central College. "I've always done musical theater and all that, but my dream since I've been little was to be a recording artist. It was a dream come true."
She replaced Amy O'Meara, who left the group in the fall. Macuda immediately got to work memorizing the lyrics to the songs. Within two days, she was in the studio overdubbing the voice of her predecessor. A week later, she was learning dance steps and recording additional songs with the other members of the group, Chicagoans Stefanie "Stefie B" Berecz, 18, and Tiffany "Hot T" Turner, 21. By the end of December, she made her Scandelle Us debut at It Kicks, a dance club in West Allis, Wis.
On stage, Macuda has been nicknamed "Crazy J." But what she is most crazy about is her chance to be part of a group that is developing a strong following in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. The girls have been booked solid for months, playing as many as three venues almost every weekend. They rehearse six days a week. Messner said, their 19-track CD, available online, has been a steady seller.
Last Saturday, all their hard work paid off, when Scandelle Us won the Chicago Music Awards Best New Entertainer award, run by Chicago-based Martin's Inter-Culture Ltd. The group also had been nominated for Pop Entertainer of the Year in the contest, in which the public, over the last 22 years, has bestowed honors on performers as diverse as R. Kelly, Smashing Pumpkins and Sir Georg Solti. To top it off, they were asked to perform at the awards ceremonies, held at the Chicago Renaissance Hotel.
"I really like making this a big priority," said Macuda, who has temporarily put her studies at North Central College on hold. "It's something I love to do. I don't mind putting in the time. It's not a chore for me. I have the drive to do it."
That's what Messner likes in his artists -- the willingness to learn and to sacrifice for their craft. He is looking for the kind of people who aren't happy unless they are on stage.
"You work when other people play, that's your job," he told the girls. "And you work when other people work, so you are prepared to work when they play. It's very physical and extremely competitive. You have to immerse yourself in this, body and soul."
Although he likes to remain in the background, Messner is at the forefront of the group's success. He has been in the business of putting together young talent for more than 30 years. He conceived the idea for the all-girl group more than two years ago and auditioned more than 120 hopefuls. The trio has become his primary focus.
Before Macuda came on board, the group had already performed at the United Center, where its songs are played over the public-address system at Chicago Bulls home games. The girls also had sung the national anthem for Chicago White Sox and Chicago Rush games. They have been the opening act for such performers as Mary J. Blige, Big Daddy Kane, B2K, Stevie B, TKA, Jay-Z and Roc-a-feller.
By design, Messner's singers are as varied as their repertoire. Macuda is white, Turner is black and Berecz is Hispanic. But each holds her own when it's her turn to sing lead, back-up or rap.
Messner said Macuda is a team player who works hard and respects the skills and abilities of the two girls who share the stage with her.
"It's been a real joy working with her," he said. "She not only has all the talent which many young artists have, but beyond that, which is usually lacking in artists, is an extraordinary work ethic. Her willingness to work on her own and prepare for the next day's work and come in totally prepared is exceptional. That's the artist you want to invest your time and efforts in because they are going to make it."
The other two performers said they are happy to have Macuda on board.
"I think Jillian is great," Turner said. "For a person to learn (in a short time) what it took us two years to learn, that is an accomplishment. Our stage presence and show is stronger because of her and what she is bringing into the group."
Berecz agrees that Macuda is a perfect fit for Scandelle Us.
"That was something we were scared about," Berecz said. "She's just been heaven-sent this whole six-week period. She's totally stepped up to the plate. She's a pro."
Among her biggest fans back home in Naperville are her parents, Walter and Marjorie Macuda, who watched their only child's talents begin to blossom in their living room. They encouraged her to pursue her love of singing and chauffeured her to music lessons and play rehearsals. Messner invited them to accompany their daughter on her audition for Scandelle Us.
"This is something she's wanted to do for some time," Walter Macuda said. "We are very proud. We hope that her success continues. It validates that she does have talent. It's good to see that verified. She'll go as far as her determination takes her."
John DeGroot, music teacher at Waubonsie Valley, isn't surprised at Macuda's success. He remembers his former student as a "showstopper" during her four years at the high school.
"She's an incredible talent," he said. "She had it all -- a great dancer and wonderful singer. Her Adelaide performance in `Guys and Dolls' brought the house down. She was just phenomenal in that show."
Macuda is continuing to acclimate herself to the group, throwing herself full time into her new role. Most of her days are filled with rehearsals, voice classes and workouts with a trainer to stay fit. There is a strong athletic component to the act, she said. Refusing to lip-synch any of their songs, the girls need to build the stamina to be able to sing and dance at the same time.
While often physically drained after these shows, Macuda said she is glad to be on stage, doing what she loves best.
"Performing gives you this rush you can't get from anything else," she said. "I love seeing other people enjoying what you do. It makes you feel good about all the hard work you put into something. I'm so blessed. I'm my happiest when I'm performing. I hope to be doing it forever."
FYI
Scandelle Us will perform at 11 p.m. Saturday at Zero Gravity, 22W613 75th St., Naperville. To listen to the music of Scandelle Us, visit artists.mp3s.com/artists/445/scandelle_us.html. For more information on the performers or to purchase their compact disc, visit www.scandelle-us.com.
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