Hitting a High Note Local Resident Michelle Cox Performs on NBC’s “The Voice” Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography / Provided
When Michelle “Chelle” Cox was nine years old, her grandfather moved into her family’s Bargersville home. Cox, who had been singing for as long as she had been talking, was always flitting around the house, bursting into song. One day her grandpa told her parents, “Chelle’s really good for a nine-year-old. You should consider getting her involved in something to help grow this talent.” Cox sang in her middle school choir, but she elected to home school throughout high school. When she was 13, she asked her mom to set up a YouTube channel where she could post snippets of her talent. “I was in love with Justin Bieber, and I knew YouTube was how he got recognized,” says Cox, who began performing at birthday parties and church events. For the past year, Cox, 19, has worked in the Center Grove area as a preschool teacher. “It wears me out, but I love it,” says Cox, who plans to study early childhood education and/or music education at Wabash College this fall. Cox incorporates music into her classroom every day, whether it’s singing “Happy Birthday”, the national anthem, or Christmas carols. “Music will always play a part in whatever I do,” she says. 12 / GREENWOOD MAGAZINE / APRIL 2020 / atGreenwood.com
