The Life 400 North ~ December 2015 / January 2016

THE

LIFE 400 NORTH

BIG VOICE BIGGER DREAMS Behind the scenes with Riley Biederer Inside: Lambert baseball player faces million dollar decision | A night out in Roswell

We treat fractures.

Even on holiday breaks.

Our pediatricians are standing by this Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. And with our online scheduling, you can get in line before you leave home.

Learn more at choa.org/urgentcare.

©2015 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.

CHILDREN’S AT FORSYTH | 410 PEACHTREE PARKWAY, CUMMING HOLIDAY HOURS: 9 AM TO 7 PM If you think your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911. We accept walk-in patients during business hours.

Hours may be affected by unanticipated circumstances. Visit choa.org/urgentcare for real-time updates.

2

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

www.ZWdefense.com 770-887-3720 THE LIFE 400 NORTH Corporate Square | 351-A Dahlonega St. | Cumming, GA 30040

December 2015 • January 2016

|

3

E ditor

from the

W

e’ve almost made it. The new year is approaching and we are nearing our one year anniversary. Not to get ahead of ourselves (we technically don’t turn 1 until February), but we are pretty proud at how far we have come. And that’s what this season is about, among other reasons, right?

A time to reflect on where you have been the past year and the things you’ve accomplished. It’s never good to exclusively look back and revel though; you have to keep your gaze forward too, you have to plot and plan your continued journey.

So that’s kind of what we wanted to look at for this issue: In the face of success (and even worse, recognition), how do people stay grounded and focused? No one may be able to answer this better than Gregory Johnson, a world renowned artist and sculptor who has been forced to pivot with the style that made him.

We also sat down with Seth Beer, the best baseball player to come out of Forsyth County in quite some time, about what it took to turn down an almost guaranteed million dollar deal to go play at Clemson University.

And, of course, on the cover, we have Riley Biederer: a girl who could easily have been satisfied with simply getting the chance to perform on the hit singing competition “The Voice,” but instead is using it as a mile marker in what she hopes is a superstar career. So take a seat for a second (it’s probably cold outside anyways), bundle up and get some inspiration to keep striving in 2016 in our December issue of The Life — 400 North.

—

Micah Green

770.781.4922 Ages 2 & Up! 3 Convenient Cumming Locations!

419 Tribble Gap Road 1676 Buford Highway 230 Elm Street

ONE MONTH FREE! (Up To $50 Value)

Must present coupon at time of registration.

Valid only for new registrations and certain stipulations may apply.

OFFER EXPIRES 12/31/15

www.facebook.com/cummingdanceacademy

www.cummingdanceacademy.com 4

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

Dr. John Reyes, MD, F.A.C.O.G.

Dr. Ingrid Reyes, MD, F.A.C.O.G.

Dr. Natu Mmbaga, MD, F.A.C.O.G.

Michelle Forrester, PA-C

Emory Johns Creek Hospital •

Northside Hospital - Forsyth

Call Today to schedule your appointment

404-446-2496 www.reyesobgyn.com

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

5

Contents 10

18

Tough Call

Bumping Around in the Arts

Imagine being 19 years old and being faced with the biggest decision of your life, one that could be the difference in millions of dollars.

Welcome to Seth Beer’s world.

Gregory Johnson is a world renowned artist who is most recognized for his sculpture, including ones in the city of Cumming.

A Night Out in Roswell

Growing Her Voice

Osteria Mattonen serves authentic Roman food on Roswell’s popular Canton Street. The appeal of the area and what’s on the menu has helped with the restaurant’s success.

After a three-month stint on the hit reality singing competition “The Voice,” Riley Biederer is bringing her Forsyth-born voice to stage after stage in the hopes of becoming one of the stars she grew up listening to.

14

24

Sports Portraits

22

Calendar

28

On the cover: Riley Biederer at Michael Cummings’ Music Maker Production Studios. Photo: Micah Green.

6

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

Contributors

Thank You for voting us #1 in Forsyth!

A proud supporter of Forsyth County Schools.

Content Director

Micah Green mgreen@forsythnews.com 770-887-3126

Advertising

Ryan Garmon - Director rgarmon@forsythnews.com 770-205-8960 Cheri Boghos cboghos@forsythnews.com Connor Kelly ckelly@forsythnews.com

Graphic Design Angie Decker

Copy Editor/Paginator Tracie Pike

Contributing Writers Kelly Whitmire Kayla Robins Brian Paglia

Executive Staff

Publisher Vince Johnson vjohnson@forsythnews.com Editor Kevin Atwill katwill@forysthnews.com Circulation Director Lisa Salinas lsalinas@forsythnews.com Online Editor Jim Dean jdean@forsythnews.com

Chemical Peel

Call to schedule your complimentary vein screening

Most major insurances accepted for Vein procedures.

678-513-1600

Peter Wrobel, M.D.

Cumming 4415 Front Nine Dr. Ste. 600

www.NorthGeorgiaVein.com 8

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

9

TOUGH

CALL

10

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

H Imagine being 19 years old and faced with the biggest decision of your life, one that could be the difference in millions of dollars.

Welcome to Seth Beer’s world.

Story by Brian Paglia

O

n October 26, Seth Beer drove home from one of his baseball games with his dad, Michael, for the

last time.

The two were returning from Jupiter, Fla., where Seth had played in t h e 2 0 1 5 W W B A Wo r l d Championships with the EvoShield Canes, one of the premier amateur travel baseball organizations in the country.

Even after everything the greatest high school baseball player to come out of Forsyth County had already faced – giving up a sure-Olympic swimming career, winning a state championship at December 2015 • January 2016

Lambert High School in Georgia’s largest classification, making all-American lists and national all-star teams – it was the ultimate barometer for Seth’s potential professional career.

At 19 years old, the 6-foot-3, 205pound left-handed hitting outfielder entered the event projected to be picked in the middle of the first round or early in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft where he could garner a signing bonus of upwards of $2 million. In Jupiter, he’d be facing some of the best high school pitching in the country and use a wood bat like the pros. If he performed well and THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

11

improved his draft stock enough, Beer’s decision was easy: he would stay in high school, play his final season at Lambert, get picked in the top 10 of next summer’s draft and make life-changing money. If he struggled, Beer would leave high school to play at Clemson University, postponing his professional career by at least two years to prove himself to professional scouts all over again.

But a funny thing happened. Beer played well. Really well. He hit .533, and the Canes won a world championship. His draft stock should have soared. His decision should have been easy. But it wasn’t. Instead, his draft stock didn’t improve. Everything was complicated.

On the road 10 minutes away from home, Seth turned to his dad.

“Man, I have to make a big decision,” he said.

Beer’s life up until that day had been split between the pool, where he became a national record-holder in the 50- and 100-meter backstroke in the 11- and 12-year-old age group, and the baseball diamond. By the time Seth was playing competitive travel baseball at 12, he was homeschooled to help maintain a grueling schedule: up at 5:30 a.m., swim until 8 a.m., catch a nap, ride with his mom, Robin, and sister Savannah to Cobb County for baseball practice with the East Cobb Longhorns then back to the pool. Everything pointed toward Seth being invited to participate in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team Trials at just 15 years old.

And then Beer made the first big decision of his life: He walked away

12

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

from swimming. His love of baseball had eclipsed his love of the pool while his talent on the diamond had seemingly caught up with his talent in the water.

At 13, Beer joined the Georgia Roadrunners, a new travel baseball team coached by former MLB pitcher Paul Byrd. At tryouts, Byrd threw batting practice to Beer and marveled.

“When he hit the ball, he was incredibly smooth, powerful, and it looked like what he was born to do,” Byrd said. “It was poetry.”

Byrd stopped Beer after a few rounds of batting practice.

“Son, I really think you could hit in the big leagues,” Byrd said.

“Really?” Beer said. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Byrd replied.

Devoted to baseball, Beer set out on a course to find out what limits, if any, he had in the sport. He enrolled at King’s Ridge Christian School, a small private school in Alpharetta, in the eighth grade and the next season hit .528 with eight home runs as a freshman on the varsity team.

Seeking better competition, he enrolled in nearby Lambert High School his sophomore year. When he first met then-head baseball coach Jamie Corr in fifth period weight training, Beer walked up to him and said, “I’m here to win a state title.”

And Lambert did, with Beer hitting .589 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs and 56 runs-batted in. He was named a Louisville Slugger High School AllAmerican, verbally committed to play baseball at Clemson and was just one of two high school underclassmen to play in the 2014 Under Armour AllAmerica Baseball Game at Wrigley Field.

When he did it all again as a junior — hitting .560 with eight home runs and 41 RBI, playing in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game — the question became would Beer ever play another high school inning?

Beer returned from Jupiter asking himself that same question, and he sought out insight from plenty of sources. He talked with family. He talked with Byrd. He talked with his old hitting instructor, Bran Austin. He t a l ke d w i t h h i s a d v i s o r, E r i c McQueen. He talked with family friend Michael Barrett, a former MLB catcher. He talked with 2015 National League MVP Bryce Harper when December 2015 • January 2016

Harper spoke to Beer’s EvoShield team. He talked with Canes’ coach Jeff Petty who watched Beer hit .409 with a team-best 35 RBI this summer.

“I think he’s someone who could hit .300 in the big leagues and hit 25-30 home runs,” Petty said. “That’s what you’re looking at.”

With each he laid out the pros and cons of staying in high school or going to Clemson, and often the conversation came around to the money at stake.

But Beer couldn’t shake the thought of Clemson. A signing bonus in the first round would look nice, but it wouldn’t be life-changing money after 40 to 45 percent was taken out for an agent and taxes. He’d get an extra two to three years in college to prove himself to MLB teams before entering the minor “I think he’s leagues. He wouldn’t disappear in the lowest levels someone who of minor league baseball or get jaded by the cut- could hit .300 in throat life of players fighting to make the big the big leagues leagues. and hit 25-30 Beer took a risk because he wanted to be a part of a home runs,” team.

“The [pro] list just went on and on for going to c o l l eg e ,” B e e r s a i d . Jeff Petty, EvoShield Head Coach “Some kids are wired differently, and I just love the team mentality and being linked to a community. It drives me to perform and do better for myself and my teammates.”

On Nov. 11, Beer sat at a table in the Lambert High School media center with his family wearing a crisp white dress shirt, orange tie and purple Clemson pullover sweater. He brought two Clemson hats and signed to play baseball this spring for the Tigers, stepping into this risk he felt coming on that October car ride home from Jupiter.

He looked at his dad driving sensing everything was about to change.

“This is the last time we’ll ever do this together,” Seth said.

Tears welled up in both their eyes.

“It was awesome,” Michael said. “It was fun.”

The Cumming Playhouse proudly presents...

Variety Show

January 22nd-24th, 2016 Fri, Sat | 8:00pm Sun | 3:00pm Matinee

Upcoming Shows: Sentimental Journey Orchestra New Year’s Eve Show Thursday | December 31, 2015 3:00pm & 8:00pm The Sentimental Journey Orchestra (SJO) is a modern Big Band instrumental group made up of five (5) saxophones, four (4) trombones, four (4) trumpets, piano, guitar, bass and drums. We have hundreds of arrangements that recreate the sounds and styles of the most famous Big Bands.

Mark Twain and Samuel Clements Together Saturday | January 9, 2016 8:00pm This show gives the audience a look at the man and the myth, by having Mark Twain and Samuel L. Clemens on stage at the same time, the audience has the pleasured of selecting the right one on the right occasion. The show is the most entertaining Mark Twain show in the touring the country; presenting the audience with the opportunity for participation in the singing and music of Clemens time period, while enjoying Twain’s hilarious tall tales and witty humor. A intriguing approach to this American literary icon and a wonderful evening of theatre!

RED SAILS INTO THE SUNSET “All About Red Skelton “ Saturday | January 16, 2016 3:00pm & 8:00pm We return to the 1980s and a fictional television program, “ONE MORE TIME!” each week a legendary entertainer comes back for an encore performance. This time it’s Red Skelton and is zany cast of characters including favorites like “Clem Kadiddlehopper”, “Junior- the mean little kid”, “ Sheriff Deadeye” and “Freddie the Freeloader” A guest star joins the fun with show host, Chuck Carson.

For a complete listing of shows or to purchase tickets, visit

www.playhousecumming.com

101 School Street Cumming, GA 30041

770.781.9178 December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

13

Rome in Roswell Osteria Mattone brings Italy to Canton Street with a simple elegance fit for any occasion Story by Kayla Robins

R

yan Pernice and his executive chef, Ted Lahey, ate at 31 restaurants in seven days to develop the concept of his second restaurant in downtown Roswell. In Rome.

Now that’s research.

Osteria Mattone has been serving authentic Roman cuisine on Canton Street for around two years now.

Open for lunch and dinner, you’d be hard fetched to find something negative to say about it. Except maybe that you can’t eat it 31 times every week.

The experience

When honing in on what cuisine to bring to his second Roswell restaurant – he also owns Table and Main – Pernice looked at what was still missing on Canton Street. The goal was to add to the dialogue of what was happening there already and not add something that already exists. “Shockingly, Italian was a big gap,” he said.

The space was created so guests can make what they want of the experience.

The Osteria dining room serves as the bar room.

More casual, no table cloths. No reservations. “It’s next to the bar, so it’s got a higher energy, a little more come as you are sort of feel. So if it’s 9

14

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

o’clock on a Friday and you forgot about a reservation and you just want a pizza and a beer. On the other side, we have what we call the Trattoria dining room. It’s got while table cloths. It’s a little more, sort of got this elegance to it. If you make reservations, that’s where you’ll be sitting.”

The Canton Street appeal

“It’s tough to make a restaurant a destination,” Pernice said. “No one is flying in to go to a restaurant on Canton Street. However, Canton Street itself is a huge draw. So when you have the vibrancy of that scene already, it’s a lot more conducive to the success of a restaurant. There are a lot of restaurants on the road here that are very different in concept, very different in feel. And a lot of that lends itself to this concept of the walkability of Canton Street. So you can say, you know what, we don’t have reservations, but it’s a Friday night. Let’s just go to Canton Street and figure out something to do. Have a glass of wine here and walk down there.”

The food

The menu sticks pretty close to authentic Roman cuisine. “We like to say it’s Italian food as Italians December 2015 • January 2016

would eat in Italy,” Pernice said. “But we don’t take ourselves too seriously about it. A guiding light is if it’s delicious and we like it and we’re excited about it and it’s vaguely Italian, let’s put it on the menu.”

The pasta section may be the most popular. All pastas except two are handmade in-house. “A signature dish, which is not meant to be signature but has just sort of become that, is the angolotti di oxo,” he said. Flavors in the braised oxtail dish with short rib and buttery jus will equally melt together and stand out.

Pernice’s favorite dish is the tagliolini di mare, or seafood pasta.

“What’s fascinating about all of these dishes that are part of the Roman cannon of classic dishes, is they’re all done the same bu t d i ff e r e n t i n eve r y p l a c e . T h e ingredients may not change, but the presen-

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot

like Christmas!

When sounds of carols fill the air, And signs of the season are everywhere When hearts are light and cares are few Then we know it’s time to give our thanks to you!

Happy Holidays!

American Proteins December 2015 • January 2016

tation may. It’s the type of food that has been served in Rome for generations.”

Other menu favorites: the speck e rucola – pizza with Alto Adige ham, arugula, pecorino and tomato – and the brasato di maiale – a slowbraised pork dish with cannellini beans and a jus that provides instant warmth on a winter day.

Don’t forget the wine.

“To my knowledge, we are the only restaurant in Roswell w i t h t wo Wi n e S p e c t a t o r Awards, both of which got a special mention of their value. The first thing you see when you walk in here is a big wall of wine, which should send the message that, hey, wine is really important here,” he said.

Dan Pernice – his brother and business partner – was on the James Beard Awardwinning wine team at The Modern in New York. “[A] big part of what we wanted to add to Canton Street is we are the wine spot.”

770-889-2521 Available 7 days a week

307 Pilgrim Mill Road Cumming Ga 30040

Serving Forsyth and the surrounding community for 30 years

Dr. McGruder • Dr. Sewell Dr. Vavilapalli • Dr. Haezebrouck Dr. Sutphin • Dr. Yu

4705 Leland Drive Cumming, GA 770-887-6148 www.americanproteins.com

www.crestviewah.com THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

15

Canton St

A Night Out in Roswell Fickle Pickle 1085 Canton Street

Chicken salad on Croissant (w/hazelnuts, dried cherries, celery & tarragon)

We picked out our favorites based on word of mouth. This list is neither exhaustive nor objective.

Atlanta’s got good eats. You can go to almost any neighborhood and find either a prestigious restaurant or a hole in the wall that skims on extravagance for local flair.

But Atlanta is big.

What if you could get to all of those menus, all of those cuisines, without getting back in your car? What if you wanted to take a walk in between tapas and dinner, or after dessert and coffee? Or what if you wanted to get that meal you’ll be talking about for days but you didn’t want to go far from local shops and galleries?

Welcome to Canton Street.

Salt Factory Pub 952 Canton Street

Hwy

9

Norcross St

Braised Beef Short Rib (w/mushrooms, potato au gratin, fried onions) Salt Factory Mussels (w/ roasted garlic, chipotle, tomato, cilantro)

16

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

Zest Restaurant/Pearl Raw Bar 957 and 959 Canton Street December 2015 • January 2016

Bring in this ad and receive a

$25 Gift Certificate Toward any purchase. Offer expires December 31, 2015

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

17

18

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

BUMPING AROUND IN THE ARTS Story by Kelly Whitmire & Micah Green

“It’s

like a path you go down,” said Gregory Johnson, speaking of his process as an artist, as he sat inside the studio at his home in Cumming on a recent fall afternoon. “I just feel like I am going down the path kind of bumping around like I’m going through a maze in the dark.” From the outside looking in, that hardly seems like the case. Johnson, a world renowned artist who is most recognized for his sculptures, has work in 38 states and seven countries. He’s been on the receiving end of countless awards and accolades.

He’s even shown his work with some regularity at Art Basel, one of the most prestigious art shows on the planet. And despite all this, the humble man from the Midwest still approaches his work with an openness to let it shape him, rather than just the other way around.

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

19

I

n November, during the unveiling ceremony for his sculpture of Lady Justice outside the new Forsyth County Courthouse Johnson spoke on the importance of a place defining itself through its art.

“Sculpture tells a lot about the fabric of a community,” Johnson said.

“Sculpture in a town speaks to its history; it is educational. It is inspirational. It is motivational. It is spiritually healing and it is a financial workhorse.”

Down the street from the courthouse stands another one of Johnson’s pieces, The Cumming Forsyth War Memorial. The work was his first major sculpture commission.

“It is still one of my favorite concepts,” he said. And that’s saying something, because he has no shortage to choose from.

Johnson, a Chicago native, has left his mark up and down the exits on Ga. 400, but in particular Forsyth County, his new home.

The War Memorial and Lady Justice are the largest ones, but far from the only ones.

Hiram Parks Bell - a colonel in the Confederate Army and state and federal lawmaker - sits outside the Cumming City Hall. John Forsyth, the former governor and namesake of the county, sits outside the former county courthouse and outside the Forsyth County Administration Building, a poultry farmer and young girl stand as a tribute to the county’s agricultural roots and future.

Johnson certainly has his work on display in his adopted hometown, but with more than 1,000 pieces under his belt, many of his works have found their way across the country and around the world.

“I guess I create about 30 to 35 sculptures a year,” he said. “We have work in 38 states on exhibit and in seven countries. We literally touch tens of thousands of people a day, hopefully making their day better.”

Johnson said producing one of his sculptures takes somewhere between nine and 11 months. Due to heavy work load and the process of building a statue, Johnson is typically working on several pieces at the same time.

“Typically, I’ll have about five works in progress,” he said. “The beauty of that is

20

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

while one is in a certain place, another one could be at another business. So there’s downtime in between the pieces, but in the interim you’re here assembling and putting together pieces of another sculpture.”

Before the works are built, the process often starts by brainstorming with a client to find out what they are interested in, before he refines the idea and begins the logistics of pricing and materials.

“Then it’s sort of up to me to pick the symbols or the shapes or the figures,” Johnson said. “And then develop a composition that somehow expresses what they would like to communicate.”

Johnson admits that certain ideas are harder to pull off than others.

“Just recently from Ohio, there’s a gentleman who wanted me to sculpt a sculpture that depicted positive mental health,” he said. “So, you scratch your head a little bit and think about things that would be consistent with positive mental health that we recognize as symbols.”

But more often than not, the idea is more concrete.

Among the most popular themes in Johnson’s work are mascots for col-

leges and universities, including a tiger for Brenau University in Gainesville, a bear for Mercer University in Macon and a camel for Campbell University in North Carolina.

Though traditional statues of people and animals are definitely popular, Johnson said that there has been a m ove t owa r d a m o r e m o d e r n approach, which he said made up about 35 percent of his sculptures this year. He is happy with this shift in focus. Many of the traditional sculptures he is commissioned are deceased people, often times generals or dignitaries, but he has also had a large number of commissions for lost loved ones.

“I have always been told to loosen up and be more modern, and I have always fought it,” Johnson said. “But I am tired of sculpting deceased people, it is emotionally traumatizing.”

Johnson said that, in general, older generations are more interested in traditional sculptures, but that as those generations have died off and continue to, modern sculptures, and art in general, have shifted to the forefront of the art world.

“Over time, the taste of the people that I show to has been changing,” he said. “So you have some choices to make as an artist; do you want to keep repeating or modifying themes by sculptures that have already been done, or do you want to do something new and fresh that has never been done?”

Though many works start with consultation, there are works that Johnson creates just to sell with no particular buyer in mind, but that doesn’t mean December 2015 • January 2016

THE MARKETEER

it’s not crucial to sell it.

“I fall in love with every piece I create, honestly, otherwise I probably wouldn’t produce it. But you really have to have faith you’re going to sell it, and the only glimpse you have of it is in wood,” Johnson said showing off a wooden model of a bigger sculpture sitting in the corner at his studio.

Then he points to the full-sized sculpture.

“That piece over there cost me seven grand to produce.”

The production expense actually made Johnson, who began his artistic career as an adolescent painter, wary of entering sculpting.

“I was struggling to sell just tradi-

tional paintings [in college], and these bronzes are often 10 times more expensive than what a typical oil painting would cost to produce.”

Obviously.

Even so, now sculptures make up 99 percent of his work.

At the most recent Art Basel Miami Beach, one of the most prestigious art shows on the planet, Johnson sat by his wife not too far from one of his three entries this year titled “Efflorescence”. They sat and watched as hundreds, then thousands of people walked by. Some stopped, some didn’t. Stop or not, Johnson felt like he was getting feedback from each.

“It’s nice to get a wide variety of feedback, if it’s all positive or all negative that kind of tells you something, and you get to decide what you do with that something.”

A s t h e s h ow w i n d e d d ow n , Johnson and his wife strolled around and looked at other pieces. As they got to one that struck both of them, they stopped and examined the piece.

“We stood there and this quote I have heard more than once popped into my head, ‘in order for my art to be better, I have to be better,’” Johnson said. “I turned and looked at my wife and I just said, ‘I have to be better.’”

Independent Living Assisted Living • Memory Care Call 770-887-2000 To Tour Today.

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

21

THE

LIFE

Sports on 400 North

Our favorite portraits of some of the area’s most talented athletes.

Photographs by Micah Green

Jacob Grindstead, Horizon Christian

22

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

Cody Dwyer, North Forsyth Micheal Cross, West Forsyth

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

23

GROWING

HER VOICE Story by Kayla Robins

24

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

After a three-month stint on the hit reality singing competition “The Voice,”Riley Biederer is bringing her Forsyth-born voice to stages across the country in the hopes of becoming one of the stars she grew up listening to.

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

25

19

years. 90 seconds. 17,768 fans.

For a minute and a half, every fan in Philips Arena – 17,768 of them – is silent. Hats are in hand, hands are on hearts. Eyes stare, captivated at a 19-year-old girl from Cumming and her echoing, booming voice that sends chills through the crowd.

Chills turn to cheers, then she is off.

It wasn’t the first time Riley Biederer sang the national anthem before an Atlanta Hawks basketball game. She’s now done that twice. Also once for a Braves baseball game.

Nor was it her first stint singing in front of large crowds. After scoring two record deals (Elton John’s Rocket Music at 15 and Sony at 18), she auditioned for and competed in “The Voice,” a nationally televised and widely popular reality singing competition that airs on NBC, where she was coached by celebrity judges Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani. And her No. 1 idol. (More on that later.)

As she sits in a restaurant in southwest Forsyth’s Vickery Village the day after that Hawks game, Christmas music plays in the background. She’s not worried about that Christmas music. It’s raining, and she’s supposed to film a video for her first originally written Christmas single.

She had to press pause on her songwriting (soul-pop style) while she was on “The Voice” and is happy to get back to it. Now she can continue working on her publishing deal with Sony (she signed on her 18th birthday).

“I do take from my life. I guess as a writer you have to be an observant kind of person, so I observe things around me and phrases and things that happen to my friends a lot of the times and family,” she said of her lyrical inspira-

tion. “I’ll just hear something and I’m like, oh, that’s interesting, and it just sparks something like a desire to put it into a song. A lot of my ideas come from social media or something you’ll read and you’re like that’s a dope title.”

One of her favorite songs was ignited by a phrase her best friend, Chandler, said to her.

“It’s called ‘Love on Fire.’ And it was about this guy I was dating, and we had kind of a really topsy-turvy relationship, but most of the time it was really good,” she said. “And she used the phrase, ‘y’all’s love is like a love that’s on fire, and it’s passionate.’ And that’s really cool to say. So I used it, and it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve written.”

‘Just that good’

Her band – Cheney Brannon on drums and Biederer’s music director, Jacob Evergreen on lead guitar, Preston Shewbridge on bass and Rex Hussman on keyboard – continued to practice her songs while she was in Los Angeles for “The Voice.”

“We’ll do cover gigs, and we will do three-hour shows and I’ll be like, ‘you guys are in for this?’ And we won’t rehearse, and they’ll just play around with whatever I’m doing in the moment,” she said. “They are just that good.”

She describes herself as an easygoing performer. She can sing almost anywhere with anything. No rituals or must-have items, just her voice and maybe a guitar. And her voice is enough.

Waiting for us to choose the next location during a photo shoot earlier in the day, she starts humming. Better humming than many people can ever hope to sing.

Her favorite performance atmosphere is when she’s singing in the back

of a bar. No one’s really listening intently. She knows she’s performed at bigger arenas and for larger audiences.

But they’re enjoying the music and maybe moving around a little. Or this time she sang for a young girl’s birthday party to 40 kids. They were all standing around her and singing along.

“It was so cool, and I just love when everyone is engaged and actually paying attention and enjoying it,” she said.

“It makes it so much more enjoyable on stage. It sends energy back to you.”

Growing up musical

For as long as she can remember, Biederer has been a singer.

Her grandmother sang professionally. Her mother signs and plays piano.

Every holiday consists of piano and music.

“Half the people in my family can actually play instruments, so it’s really kind of fun. I think I just grew up in it, and I took a liking to it when I was really young. I mean, my dad has videos of me when I was like really small singing, so it’s like, I don’t know, I’ve never really had any desire to do anything else. There was one weird point in my life when I wanted to be a veterinarian.”

She hasn’t always been so outgoing with her voice.

Biederer used to suffer from stage fright to the point where, around the ages of 6-8, she would run out of the room when someone asked her to sing.

But one day she told herself if she’s going to do this as a job she has to stop being scared.

She hasn’t stopped singing since.

No such thing as overnight success

She now has gained more than

L: Riley walks off the floor of Philips Arena after the national anthem. R: Riley at Music Maker Production Studios in Cumming.

26

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

December 2015 • January 2016

Riley Bierderer spent three months on “The Voice,” a nationally televised and widely popular reality singing competition that airs on NBC. Photo Courtesy of NBC

250,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel and more than 27 million views. Her first video to pass 1 million views was a cover of a Rihanna song. (“Diamonds.” It now has almost 9 million.) Who just so happens to be her biggest idol and favorite part of “The Voice.”

“I remember before they had announced who our [guest] advisor was going to be I remember joking around with my friends saying like, ‘oh my god, if it’s Rihanna I’m going to die,’” she said, sounding more excited than for anything else we talked about. “I was so excited. After that I was like I don’t care what happens on the show. I’m good. I was freaking out … She was so nice and so into it and 100 percent

involved in the whole giving advice and helping out. It was amazing. She’s amazing. I could have cried, and she hugged me and I felt tears. I was like no no no no no.”

Until she makes it big enough for an upcoming star to fan-girl over meeting her – and she intends to – she is spending her time singing, performing, writing, hanging out with friends, shopping and going to concerts.

If she seems calm (minus Rihanna) and collected for a teenager who has been working for her one dream career essentially her entire life, it’s because she is. And she does it without acting like she thinks her life will be over if the next thing isn’t “the thing.”

“I definitely think that it happens differently for everyone.

I don’t think there really is such a thing as an overnight success. Like one day you’re no one and the next day you’re signed. Everyone who is trying to do this has been trying for probably a minute, and to the world it looks like it’s really, really fast,” she said. “I don’t think there’s really one shot. I think that hard working people get opportunities, and you just take it and run with it and go as far as it goes. Then you move on.”

Whenever her shot comes, whether it’s one or many, she plans to be back in an auditorium like Phillips Arena, with 17,768 fans looking on. Cell phone flashlights on instead of lighters. And she’ll be on stage for more than 90 seconds.

Because they’ll all have come for her.

Lanier Place from

Lanier Place, our senior living community, is known for being warm, inviting, and active. We develop individual care plans to meet the needs of each resident, and a full-time registered nurse is available 24 hours a day to provide clinical oversight and coordination of care. Our residents engage in a variety of activities, such as tai chi, bingo, pool, cards and board games, and yoga. We also offer four church services per week, weekly performances by musical groups, and shopping, dining, and entertainment outings. For senior living in Cumming, Georgia, schedule a visit at Lanier Place today.

Care Levels Personal Care • Alzheimer’s, dementia & memory care Respite Care • Short-Term Stay • Urgent Placement

Call (770) 888-1114 for more information or to schedule a tour

440 Tribble Gap Road, Cumming,GA30040

(770) 888-1114 • www.enlivant.com December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

27

December Things To Do...

Festival of the Seasons at Georgia Aquarium thru December 25, 2015

Georgia Aquarium will be hosting a month of events for Festival of the SEAsons. Families can visit the Aquarium as it transforms into a winter wonderland. Guests can view the spectacular Holidazzle light show and 3D projection show, The Sea Around Us, in the atrium every hour. Other daily activities include the holiday entertainment show, SCUBA Claus, Holiday Deepo’s Chat and the Underwater Menorah.

www.GeorgiaAquarium.org

225 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA 30313 | 404-581-4000

Holiday fun at the World of Coca Cola thru January 3, 2016

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta. The interactive home of Coke launches its holiday celebration with lights, photo opps galore, memorable gifts and more. Guests can enjoy activities like mailing friends personalized letters from the desk of the Coca-Cola Polar Bear; savoring the season with signature beverages like Gingerbread Coke and Mistletoe Flow starting the Friday after Thanksgiving; and learning the real story behind the Santa Claus image we know and love, originally commissioned by Coca-Cola in the 1930s.

www.worldofcoca-cola.com

121 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA 30313 | 404-676-5151

Stone Mountain Christmas thru January 3, 2016 (Select Dates)

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas at Stone Mountain Park, where the true magic of the season is in the air. Enjoy the glow of more than 2 million lights, festive music and visits from some of your favorite holiday characters. Start a new tradition and create memories that will last a lifetime for your kids...and you. Experience Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas 4-D, a hilarious adventure featured in 3-D with added intheater effects that will transport you back to the Ice Age. Meet two iconic North Pole favorites, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® and Bumble™ the Abominable Snow Monster. Enjoy live performances that are sure to get you in the Christmas spirit. All aboard the Singalong Train to hear your favorite Christmas tunes as well as the heartwarming story of the first Christmas in The Gift. Wander through the Wonderland Walkway, a dazzling tunnel of lights guiding you to the Snow Angel® Palace, where you can have your picture taken with beautiful Snow Angel and her Toy Soldiers. Enjoy great holiday shopping that includes hand blown glass ornaments, homemade fudge, unique toys and seasonal apparel

www.stonemountainpark.com

Hwy. 78 East, Stone Mountain, GA 30086 | 770-498-5690

Light Up The Night Holiday Lights at Atlanta Motor Speedway - thru December 30, 2015 www.holidaylightspectacular.info | 1500 N Hwy. 41, Hampton, GA 30228 | 770-946-4211

Atlanta Motor Speedway transforms into one of the area’s largest Christmas light parks! Drive past 3 million lights and displays at Holiday Light Spectacular. Featuring carnival rides, Santa’s Village, and over three million lights. Special events include movies like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “The Polar Express.” On December 5th, come jog through the lights in our Run Through the Lights 5K. Closed Dec. 25.

Life University’s Lights Of Life - thru December 31, 2015 www.life.edu | 1269 Barclay Circle, Marietta, GA 30060 | 770-426-2884

Lights of Life at Life University is one of the most popular holiday light shows in the southeast. Make it a family tradition and get into the holiday spirit at Lights of Life this year!

Drive-Thru Christmas Lights at The Rock Ranch - thru December 31, 2015 www.therockranch.com | 5020 Barnesville Hwy., The Rock, GA 30285 | 706-647-6374

The Rock Ranch invites families to drive through more than a mile of magical Christmas lights on the farm. This tradition started eight years ago when the late S. Truett Cathy, Founder of Chick-fil-A and The Rock Ranch, purchased a truck load of lights from Lowes and Home Depot during an “After Christmas” sale. He thought folks would enjoy an affordable opportunity to drive through beautifully lit Christmas scenes. This growing lights display gets better and better each year.

Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens - thru January 2, 2016 www.callawaygardens.com | 17800 U.S. Hwy. 27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822 | 800-852-3810

Callaway Gardens’ Fantasy In Lights is not only the South’s most spectacular holiday light and sound show, it is one of the world’s “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights.” Fantasy in Lights is a spectacular holiday light and sound show, with 8 million lights, displays, Christmas village, and Santa Claus at Callaway Gardens.

Magical Nights Of Lights at Lake Lanier - thru January 3, 2016 www.lanierislands.com | 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, GA 30518 | 770-945-8787

Lanier Islands transforms into a Christmas spectacular. With astounding Christmas lights, a live Nativity, and Lanier Spectacular Screen, this is a favorite Georgia tradition. Drive past colorful displays on Magical Nights of Lights to reach Holiday Village, where you can shop, dine, visit Santa, and take carnival rides at Lake Lanier Islands Resort.

Holiday in Lights at Centennial Olympic Park - thru January 3, 2016 www.centennialpark.com | 265 Park Ave. W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 | 404-223-4412

Centennial Olympic Park’s annual Holiday in Lights is an Atlanta tradition. In November, the Park transforms into a winter wonderland with thousands of lights that make up the sparkling display.

Holiday in Lights is completely FREE to view throughout the park.

Garden Lights at Atlanta Botanical Garden - thru January 9, 2016 www.atlantabg.org | 1345 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 | 404-876-5859

The Atlanta Botanical Garden lights up for the holidays. This year, be dazzled by the Tunnel of Light, Orchestral Orbs, and Radiant Rainforest and features 1 million colorful lights, costumed characters, attractions, and snacks at the 30-acre Atlanta Botanical Garden.

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks Ice Rink @ Sugar Hill www.icerinkatsugarhill.com

Open till January 31, 2016 Admission: Adults $12 | Children $10 5039 W. Broad St., Sugar Hill, GA 30518

Avalon On Ice www.experienceavalon.com

Open till January 24, 2016 Admission: Adults $18 | Children $12 2200 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, GA 30009

Centennial Olympic Park www.centennialpark.com

Open till January 10, 2016 Admission: $12 per person - 90 minute session 265 Park Ave W NW, Atlanta, GA 30313

The Astor Holiday - St. Regis www.stregisatlanta.com

Open till January 3, 2016 Admission per hour: Adults $30 | Children $18 Rerservations are recommended | 404-563-7797 88 W. Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta, GA 30305

Atlantic Station www.atlanticstation.com

Open till February 14, 2016 Admission: Adults $13 | Children $10 1380 Atlantic Dr., Atlanta, GA 30363

E Y N e v E s

r a e Y

... o d to

t anta a h tl w , ve A o E to g w Year’s

ve r’s E a e wY

ty Par

m ~ 9p

m

- 3a

ght

dni

i st. M

a e To li agn p A ham han ng Ras ors. C .mi e x i & v N i a k : t.m ty F kS TL ink.flir ran m Par rking.

A F : e r a iu ies ll th at.d 6 alit . Prem Valet P Ha 201 7 c s tel.

E in - 9pm e son i 3 l r r s t 3 a Y e a 0 u o N 6pm A3 nB VP the nM d T P Ope scale H anta, G ye-in~ n w a r n l o e p t / I , A lanta adio s. V t. U ill T Mix t Rd. J, R Show Buffe M est .com/a reet t D B s a y y G 36 clatl ed ffle db & . ch 4 | 47 eet 0 pm Z) oste s. Com & Wa uth | www whi ts.

0 M H o : f S J o 8 n 1 E i a , e D | O ant 27.721 NY 990 en h ple Chick Atl rses ows how) ce 1 Top T “Only ulti o tin : 888.6 R n s ( i e M s H W ions ed of s ms ms. g 11 Cost,” at teel ser v night albu cludin Roo S er v e e s y o e e i t R m R t Th ar in ud th tel $35 r 5:00 p le P 8 st charts t Coun & Ho p ~ d i t ) n e l y n’ fte N rd ” ea Mu ntr Do tle. eco s A- door (a yD l as r rd Cou ” “You Be Lit w l o h i e d B th (R art, em boa ” an ith ved by $5 at rch e Bill en He Let Th r w a e e s h n e k e S “ t s o o r R a d r an m Sta cre ati s on yB 0 on “ single In M Rose,” 011 ebr miuprices in l g e e r n A3 e t i i r r G P A C e h t , a h e e e n 0 0 e p w ve $4 ll tick an 2 ome uy M e, Brem om r ap us A r’s E c awn u afte ore th le,” “S o,” “B . a l n l oin ou e n e L J a v o m Y h i i e !

D A c t l y a le si il Wh at I ated mu tten ing bam evil New cev al a gener Little t ’s W h n Ala illtown enc e even Night n e r 1 o r 3 s i w I 0 A l “ a e 1 .m at e ha For Lat id,” dn edib all | www of L L aw ~ ine old.” H Here The K ity n incr cing , ic H 6455 | a s C g u m t p M an the nly 37. th a illy firs d “G own 770.5 :00 and 016 wi usic, D 9 ean ertifie lude “O nd,” “B ll T 5 i .

D | 0 2 M y i M c c k 10 ive Bill been hits in The W g in tion a e Roc e brin J & L t r v s h a b e t i h g e w !D w big Cel N - ville as 30 AM t. e 46 His W v : e A gh 1 c i 300 ’s E le L wren until Midn gia l r r i o v a e a e ,G Ye s at ic L enc stop ille ew awr Histor oesn’t rework cev eville L n N e e i d wr le nc n th n in e, F fun , La wre evil y- o bratio d the Squar c e St ityofla i a k n w c e n t re Lu om/c the Cel igh Ma St & ook.c Law he r ’s Eve 9:00 P ing on n t o b r t e ac pp lay at ear Yea S C www.F Sho ew New Y egins | e N l b vil 39 | the ual sic nce .26 g in th ann s. Mu wre 8.226 n a i L R 67 is 12 y of B. J. Thomas New Years Eve Concert Cit the nt to m for a w t ’ 7:00 pm & 10:00 pm won

w e N

ere h W

Ne le |

at The Grand Theatre

$50 Concert Only $80 Concert and Dinner

Dinner seating from 4:00 - 5:30 for the 7:00 show.

Dinner seating from 7:00 - 8:30 for the 10:00 show.

Sentimental Journey Orchestra New Year’s Eve 3:00 pm & 8:00 pm at The Cumming Playhouse Tickets are $25 (Seniors/Veterans) & $30

Angelo’s New York Style Pizza and Bistro presents this evening with one of America’s most beloved vocalists—B. J. Thomas, whose iconic pop, country, and gospel hits defined their respective generations.

(Adults)

The Sentimental Journey Orchestra (SJO) is a modern Big Band instrumental group made up of five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, piano, guitar, bass and drums. We have hundreds of arrangements that recreate the sounds and styles of the most famous Big Bands; e.g., Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Les Brown, Buddy Rich to name but a few. We also have hundreds of arrangements, written for the Big Bands, that featured great male and female vocalists – Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr., Michael Bublé, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Natalie Cole, Jane Monheit, etc. Our library includes not only songs from the Great American Songbook, but also show tunes from Broadway. We perform these tunes in various styles that include swing, jazz, sambas, cha-chas, beguines, tangos and waltzes among others. Don’t be surprised to find tunes from the rock era as well... done in the Big Band style, of course! Our two vocalists Amy Holloway and Jerry Aull sing the songs you remember. Both do it with a style, grace and competence which dazzles our audiences.

Cumming Playhouse | 101 School St, Cumming, GA 30040

770.781.9178 | www.playhousecumming.com

B.J. Thomas’ Hit Records Include: Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head / Hooked on a Feeling / I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry / Just Can’t Help Believing / (Hey - Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.

Opening the show for B.J. Thomas will be nationally-touring comedian Karen Mills (www.karenmills.com), who has also opened for Tom Jones and Tony Orlando.

Come for the concert or make it an evening with dinner at Angelo’s and the show.

Angelo’s Bistro is located at 650 Henderson Dr, Cartersville, GA 30120, just 1.8 miles from The Grand Theatre. Call (770) 387-1188 for the special New Year’s menu or other information about dinner.

Grand Theatre | 17 N Wall St, Cartersville, GA 30120 770.386.7343 | www.thegrandtheatre.org

Q&A

Cumming Dental Associates 1200 Bald Ridge Marina Rd., Ste. 200 (Located at Exit 15 across from Costco)

Cumming, Georgia 30041

with

770-781-8650 www.cummingdental.com

What should I do if I am charged with DUI? Your first action should be that of contacting a DUI attorney as soon as you are able. The DUI laws in our state are very complex, and involve many different penalties for different DUI scenarios. If information necessary to your defense is Peter Zeliff not collected and preserved, then the likelihood that you will face these penalties will increase. An attorney can investigate your charges in order to obtain information, evidence, and testimony, and use these assets to fight for a beneficial resolution to your case.

Will I automatically lose my license after being arrested for DUI?

Evan Watson

No. You have 10 days to schedule a hearing with the Georgia Department of Driver Services in which you will appeal to keep your driving privileges. If your appeal is successful, then your drivers’ license will be left alone. If the appeal is not successful, you could lose the license for up to one year.

If my license is suspended, can I get a limited license that allows me to travel to and from work?

In most cases, yes. Depending on your criminal record, and your driving history, you may be able to get a Georgia Occupational Driver’s Permit that allows you to drive to work. It will also allow you to drive between different locations if your job duties require some travel.

How long will my DUI case take?

This depends solely on the circumstances surrounding your case. In general, with professional legal representation, you can expect your case to last for a few months up to a year. Cases that go to trial usually take longer than those that involve a plea deal.

How long will my DUI conviction remain on my record?

In our state, a DUI conviction will remain on your criminal record for life.

Contact a DUI lawyer who can give you further information about a defense, as well as provide you with legal representation if you are facing charges.

30

|

THE

LIFE

400 NORTH

$99

Take-Home Teeth Whitening System • Cosmetic & Whitening Services • Orthodontics / Braces • Root Canals • Crowns / Bridges • Dentures • Implants / Mini Implants • Oral Medication for Anxiety • Nitrous Oxide / Laughing Gas • Oral Surgery / Wisdom Teeth • Botox/Dermal Filler • TMJ Treatment • Most Insurance Accepted Dr. Susan Kramer Dr. Kevin Short Dr.Teresa Esker Dr. Susan Swain Dr. Alexandra McTier Dr. Blake Upshaw Dr. Javid Yavari (Orthodontist)

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME EMERGENCY CARE Care Credit® Financing

December 2015 • January 2016

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

31

We’re honored to serve you It’s an honor to be recognized as the nation’s leading hospital for maternity and newborn care.

Look a little closer and you’ll discover that Northside performs more surgeries and diagnoses and treats more breast and gynecologic cancer than any other hospital in Georgia. While people choose Northside for our expertise, they also know us for our exceptional compassionate care.

Visit us online at www.northside.com

December 2015 • January 2016

THE LIFE 400 NORTH

|

32