Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson, co-founder of Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC), is proud to announce that one of her students, Sanaa Gray, was selected to be the voice of American Girl doll, Melody Ellison. This doll marks the third African American doll from the company’s BeForever historical line of dolls. Melody is a 9 year old growing up in Detroit during the 1960’s Civil Rights era; who has a dream of her own. It was recently announced that American Girl will be releasing its newest civil rights doll on Thursday, August 25.
Gray has been singing since the age of 3 and started performing with Amazing Grace Conservatory in 2013. “Melody” is Gray’s first big break and she is super excited. She was invited to audition for this role, when an AGC staff member received an inquiry from Mattel’s casting department seeking talent for a role. Gray was one of the few chosen students who accepted, thinking she was auditioning for a singing role; however she was pleasantly surprised when American Girl executive producer, Julie Ann Sipos, shared the stunning news that she was chosen to be the voice of “Melody.”
“I was so excited because this is my first thing that I’ve ever done, and it was like, really cool that I got it. And there were so many people competing. I was like, ‘I got it? That’s so awesome!’ I was very excited,” Gray stated in an ABC News interview.
Gray’s voice will be used in the “Melody” recording sound studio and will record her own songs, as well as three pre-recorded songs, including “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” where she is the featured soloist.
Gray was also one of the finalists for the 2015 StarQuest4Kids competition for Taste of Soul.
Congratulations Sanaa!
Amazing Grace Conservatory is located at 2401 W. Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA 90018. For more information, please visit www.amazinggraceconservatory.org/ or call (323) 732-4283
