By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Jun 3, 2013, 14:52
Hopewell High School’s annual talent show has always showcased the talents of its many gifted students. For the past two years, the winner of the talent show has been the same: an all girl group, DKMJ.
The group, consisting of Maddy Crocker on guitar, Destinee Blow and Kaitlin Mcclaskie, both singers, and Jasmine Wyche on drums, came together when Kaitlin was interested in taking part of the talent show.
“Kaitlin wanted to sing for the talent show, and she wanted to sing with Destinee. I was friends with her so she asked me,” Crocker said. “We had our first practice together and then I realized I knew a drummer that can play with us.”
And so the group, whose name it the first initial of each of their names, began.
They began rehearsing together for the 2012 talent show, and ended up taking first place in the contest.
All of the girls have had a musical background. Both Mcclaskie and Blow have been singing for as long as they can remember. Wyche has been playing drums for 14 years, beginning in church when she was a small child. As a child, Crocker heard her father play guitar and became interested.
“He got me my first guitar and from there I just started playing,” she said.
The girls began their band and were helped by the guidance of Hopewell High’s music teacher, Ms. Allen, who helped them to become better musicians both as individuals and as a group.
“She really mentored us a lot, and taught us about singing and just being great musicians,” Blow said.
While the group has only performed for the talent show at the high school, the four girls still participate in other activities involving music.
Blow and Mcclaskie are both involved in the schools choir, while Crocker and Wyche play in the school’s band. Crocker is also in a country music band outside of school.
Although the group has only been playing together for two years, the time has come where they will go their separate ways. Three members, Crocker, Blow and Wyche, will be graduating and leaving Hopewell High, and Mcclaskie, behind. They all agree that they will miss playing together.
“I would want to play together more but my entire band is leaving me,” Mcclaskie said.
“It’s fun having a girl band, I just love playing with them,” Crocker said.
Both Crocker and Blow have hopes to continue their musical endeavors by studying at Virginia Commonwealth University, Crocker for music and Blow for Musical Theater.
While their time together was short, the girls said it was a great experience for them all, to get together with friends and enjoy something together that they are all passionate about.
“Singing just brings me joy and I love to sing in general, especially with these people, Blow said. “They’re some of my best friends.”
