Unity opera prodigy to enjoy national spotlight on 'Little Big Shots'

Victory Brinker has appeared at Carnegie Hall and has hit her mark before the camera for three yet-to-be-released films.

On Sunday evening, the 8-year-old soprano will display her talents for her largest audience yet, singing a German-language aria from the opera “The Magic Flute” for millions viewing NBC’s “Little Big Shots.”

Accompanied by her parents, Eric and Christine, and most of her 10 siblings, the prodigy from Unity traveled to California in January to tape her segment of the televised showcase for standout youth scheduled to air at 7 p.m.

While Victory’s performances have been featured in many YouTube videos, and she’s sung the national anthem at a Pittsburgh Pirates game and a Utah Jazz basketball game, debuting in a national broadcast “will be awesome,” she said. “I can’t wait to see myself on TV.”

A highlight of the taping was meeting comedian and actress Melissa McCarthy, who hosts the show and posed with the Brinkers for keepsake photos. “I like Miss Melissa a lot,” Victory said. “She was funny.”

Her mother noted the family made new friends among the program’s other featured kids and their parents. “They were just a wonderful group,” Christine said. “There were kids from all over the world.”

The Brinkers home-school their children, many of them adopted into the clan. That provides extra flexibility for Victory to rehearse and travel as she pursues her musical interests.

“We want it to be fun for her,” Christine said. “We don’t expect anything. We do it because it’s what she likes to do.

“When doors open, it’s a great opportunity for her to gain experience and do what she loves.”

Victory displayed an aptitude for music at an early age and began singing when she was 2. From Christian songs, she gravitated to opera at age 6 — after her mother played her an aria, in answer to her request to hear the highest note someone could sing.

Public performances soon followed. “As soon as she learned ‘Ave Maria,’ she said, ‘Put me in a talent show,’ ” her mother said. She indeed entered a series of talent shows and “won them all,” according to Christine.

One of them, international in scope, led to Victory’s performance at Carnegie Hall. She has sung at the Apollo Theater in New York. Closer to home, she sang in a Pittsburgh Lights and Legends show at the Pittsburgh Public Theater.

Victory came to the attention of “Little Big Shots” producers when they spotted performances posted on her Instagram account.

“They called us last June, and she had to submit some different songs,” Christine said. Before selecting Victory for the show, “they talked to us about her and asked us for more videos. It was a process.”

In a similar fashion, movie producers caught wind of her talent, and roles in three films followed in quick succession. In one of them, a Christian-oriented film tentatively titled “Season of Surrender,” she portrays the daughter of a injured football player who helps him turn his life around. And, of course, she gets to sing.

Victory has changed her career goal from being a police officer to being a singer, and it seems she’s well on her way. Considered a developing coloratura soprano, she is able to sing arias in six languages, including Italian, Spanish, German, Latin and French.

Her mother, who sings and plays piano, has been her chief music instructor during her brief yet busy singing career. More recently, the family has enlisted the help of a Pittsburgh-based professional opera singer, to make sure Victory doesn’t strain her vocal cords as she continues to learn more challenging musical passages.

“I teach them to her in pieces now,” Christine said. “Some of the notes are so high.”

Victory has most enjoyed performing at summer fairs. “After I’m done singing, I can ride the rides,” she noted.

Victory is delighted when her performances bring tears to the eyes of audience members. “It’s not a sad cry. It’s a happy cry,” she said.