By ADAM NORTHAM

The Brookhaven Daily Leader

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) — Brookhaven’s best-known high school student said she is using lessons learned at the Mississippi School of the Arts as she ascends through the ranks of America’s most popular TV talent show in Hollywood.

Jasmine Murray, a 17-year-old MSA junior from Columbus, said vocal techniques learned from MSA Vocal Department Director Patton Rice have added to skills and helped her rise from a group of thousands of contestants on “American Idol.”

“It’s helped me prepare in a lot of ways,” Murray said of her time at MSA. “It’s really helped my voice. Mr. Rice always teaches us inclination, breathing correctly, different stuff like that. He’s definitely stressed that a lot. Leading off, pronouncing my words, the ending — I know I have to remember that in any song.”

Murray, who was already a lifelong singer before coming to MSA, said the different genres of music the school has exposed her to have also helped to prepare her voice for competition. She is a converted fan of many genres, including classical, theatre, Christian, country and pop — the singing of which has helped to expand her mastery of her voice, she said.

Murray’s musical preferences could give clues to her upcoming performance when she sings on Wednesday’s the Fox talent show. She will be one of 12 contestants who will be singing for a chance to advance to this season’s Top 12.

Murray was unable to identify the song she will be singing, but she did say it is “fun” and one of her favorites. She also said her favorite singer is Christina Aguilera, because “her voice is so powerful and so amazing, and she has so much stage presence.”

Unfortunately for Murray, Aguilera — nor any other famous Hollywood sirens — has not shown up for coffee. Murray said she has not had time to meet any of her musical role models during her time in Hollywood because her “Idol” duties keep her so busy.

And when the show breaks, the high school student has to catch up on course work from MSA. She said show administrators set aside time for minors to complete their school work daily, and she tackles those duties with all the enthusiasm of her performances.

“School comes first, no matter what,” Murray said. “This is my dream, but school is so important. Education is something no one can take away from you.”

However pleasing Murray’s focus on schoolwork may be to the Mississippi Department of Education, her primary reason for being on the show is, of course, performance.

She has survived initial cuts that have seen some early season stars, like Katrina Darrell — otherwise known as “Bikini Girl” — fall by the wayside.

Murray also lived through the scary onstage experience of being the only survivor of her original group, “Team Diva.” She was the only singer left standing after the rest of the team was sent home from the competition.

“At that moment, when they called everyone forward but me, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,'” Murray said. “I didn’t think I’d made it, I thought all of them did. I was really scared. I started crying at the end when they said, ‘Jasmine, you’re moving on.’ I was like, what? Are you serious? It was totally cool. I wish all my group had made it though.”

Murray said she was pulling for the members of Team Diva, as the fellowship with other singers is what makes the entire “American Idol” experience “pretty cool.”

“Being around other people who have the same passion, who want to do the exact same thing,” she said. “It’s like being in my choir class and being with kids all the time who want to do the exact same things I want to do. I’ve never experienced anything like it, it’s so positive. If I could do it all over again I would.”

Murray is an “Idol” contestant by chance.

She was in Orlando, Fla., last year to compete in a pageant when she heard auditions were taking place in Jacksonville, and drove to the city just to take a shot. She said she never expected to make the cut, much less become part of the show or advance to the Top 36.

“Sometimes I wake up and I can’t believe I’m in the Top 36,” Murray said. “It’s just like a dream has come true. I’m seizing the moment right now.”

Though Murray has been seizing the moment for several weeks, has survived cuts, appeared before the judges and sang her lungs out on national TV, performing on “American Idol” is still no walk in the park.

“I’ve still got butterflies,” she said. “They’re always there. But it’s not a bad thing. I think I like feeling a little big nervous sometimes. I’m always nervous right before I perform, but usually by the time I get out on stage I’m calm.”

No matter what happens on the show this season, Murray said she will keep singing. After she graduates from MSA next year, Murray wants to continue her arts education at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles.

From there, she hopes to attend the Belmont School of Music in Nashville, Tenn. But through all the big dreams and big performances on the national stage, Murray said there is a certain rural state in the South she’ll always call home.

“I definitely do miss Mississippi,” she said. “It’s where I grew up, where my heart is. But I definitely love being out here, being with these people. But, hey — I’m sure I’ll be back sooner or later. Hopefully not too soon.”