UPDATED 10/20/2020: Since we wrote this article, Brianna got a private try-out with American Idol producers. We're told that it went "very well" and we're so excited to see where she goes!
Brianna Collichio is not letting Cystic Fibrosis stop her in her tracks. Her and her sister, Sentina Collichio, are local Rochester musicians who are doing everything they can to inspire others. These times during Covid have been challenging, but they've always looked for creative ways to get their music out to our region.
Brianna's dream is to make it in the industry, and her sister had a wonderful idea: To create a Tik Tok account to highlight their success, and raise awareness for their cause.
They didn't expect that a video of Brianna covering Alessia Cara's Scars To Your Beautiful would go viral on the platform - It has 800,000 views and counting as of us writing this blog.
So what motivates them? We sat down (virtually) with Sentina to ask her.
Tell us about your sister, and how she has persevered through the challenges that come with having Cystic Fibrosis.
My sister is 14 years old. She’s been singing publicly since she was 6. She has performed all over the country - including singing national anthems for the NFL starting at age 10. Cystic fibrosis has taken a lot from her. She’s been in and out of the hospital her whole life. Just a few months ago, they released a miracle medicine that’s completely cleared her lungs and were hoping it will continue to keep her healthy. Brianna has a strong faith. She lives with the belief that she can over come challenges and come out stronger. She hates the disease. It has made her very sad at times, but she’s determined to let good come out of it, and she’s done that through her music and as a result she is an inspiration to others.
Both of you are into music. How has that love for music inspired you to motivate others?
We both have been gifted musically. For my sister they’ve seen her at a young age doing what she’s doing between that and her lung disease she shouldn’t be able to do what she does. For me, my life experiences come out in my song writing. I want to motive other people to use their life experiences in a positive and powerful manner, rather than it hurting them. I’ve suffered from severe anxiety my whole life. Songwriting and singing has been a huge help, and I really hope that I can motivate others to do what they love and not focus on the things that can bring them down. I believe music has truly saved me. Rather than letting hardship destroy your life, do something to turn it around and make good come out of it. There’s a lot of pain the world but music for us has been a corner of joy.
Tell us about TikTok. What motivated you to create the account, and post the video of her singing?
What motivated me to post the Tik tok was simple. I believe in my sister and her talent and I think the world needs to hear beautiful voice and story. I knew I had to put something out there
As the video continues to get more and more views, what message do you hope people will take from it to apply to their daily lives?
We want to bring the message that nothing is impossible. No matter what challenges you face, you can be an overcomer
Tell us about both of your aspirations for your future, and anything additional you'd like to share!
I think ultimately we both want the same thing in life. Music is our gift and we hope it can bring happiness to others. I want people to listen to my music, and say “wow I can really relate” Brianna hopes she can one day have a platform large enough to impact thousands of more people. We both have songs on iTunes, Spotify, & Apple Music - just hoping for the best!