Part-time Geyserville resident competes on ‘The Voice’

A 22-year-old singer who works part-time for a Geyserville catering company is hoping a turn on NBC's 'The Voice' on Monday night will lead to a record deal.

Summer Schappell cleared a gauntlet of preliminary screenings and tests to make it to the first round of the hit show's 'Blind Auditions,' airing at 8 p.m. Monday.

A panel of celebrity coaches — Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton — assemble teams of singers vying for a recording contract. The coaches are seated in chairs with their backs facing the contestants, forcing them to make their decisions without seeing a singer's appearance. If one or more of them likes what they hear and wants that singer for their team, they press a button that swivels their chair around to face the contestant. A sign flashes on their chair announcing, 'I want you.'

Cheryl Rochioli, who manages the Geyserville Inn where Schappell works several weekends a month assisting at special events as a bartender and caterer, said she's hoping to see those words light up when the young vocalist sings.

'I think she's going to go far. She's just a little angel. She brings joy to everybody,' said Rochioli, who has been following Schappell's budding career ever since she discovered her singing at Club Klondike, a popular karaoke bar near Lake Shasta about five years ago. Rochioli befriended the Schappell family and hosts Summer and her grandmother Kay when they come down to work weddings or other special events.

Schappell has also performed locally at places like DeLorimier Winery and at the Geyserville Inn.

The petite, 5-foot 2-inch singer dyed her normally blonde hair gray and purple for a dramatic new look for the show, Rochioli said.

The hit show, now in its ninth season, is watched by more than 13 million people. Schappell has been hoping for a break in show business like this for years, said her grandfather Bill Schappell, who raised her.

They've been taking her to casting calls for years, making the 600-mile drive from Redding to Los Angeles. Several years ago they invested $15,000 to record a song and video in Nashville. But it's hard to break out, he said. Being a singer has been her singular dream since childhood.

'It's always been her ambition,' he said. 'She used to perform with a plastic microphone standing on a coffee table in the living room.'

You can reach Staff Writer Meg McConahey at meg.mcconahey or 521-5204. On Twitter @megmcconahey.