LeAnna Simmons aspires to become a finalist in the fourth Voice of McDonald’s global singing contest.
Simmons is one of 22 top United States entrants in a contest that seeks to discover and reward the most talented singers among more than 1.6 million employees who work in McDonald’s restaurants around the world.
This marks Simmons second time vying to become the Voice of McDonald’s. Simmons, a crew member at 3141 Carlisle Street at McDonald’s, first participated in the contest in 2009 when she became a semi-finalist.
“When some of the crew members that I worked with heard that I did it two years ago, they encouraged me to do it again, so I said ‘I might as well,’” said Simmons, who is a sophomore at Temple University where she sings in a jazz ensemble.
Simmons was pleasantly surprised when a McDonald’s representative showed up at her dorm with the news that she was selected as a semi-finalist.
“This is an incredible opportunity to me, and so I’m honored to have been chosen as a semi-finalist,” says the native of Dover, Pa.
“Working at McDonald’s has given me a chance to grow on so many levels, both personally and professionally. I can’t wait to share my passion for singing with a global audience.”
Simmons has been working at McDonald’s for the past three years.
This year’s Voice of McDonald’s contest is considered the largest ever, with more U.S. entrants than the previous three programs.
“The Voice of McDonald’s is truly a celebration of our employees and it is exciting for all of us to see these talented young people perform,” said John Durante, president, McDonald’s Owner/Operation of the Greater Philadelphia Region.
“We are thrilled that our very own LeAnna Simmons has made it to the semi-finals this year and we encourage everyone in the Greater Philadelphia region to show their support for her by casting a vote online.”
All U.S. entrants were required to submit an initial performance video, which was judged in three areas during the first round of competition in August 2011: singing ability, creativity and on-camera/stage presence. Simmons performance of “Hello” by Lionel Richie earned her a top spot in the U.S. semi-finals.
If Simmons is among the top three online vote-getters, she will be named a U.S. finalist on November 15 and win a trip to the McDonald’s 2012 Worldwide Convention in Orlando, Fla., to compete for top honors. The top honor includes a $25,000 grand prize.
“It will be cool to see the outcome,” Simmons added.
October 7 through November 1, members of the public can select their choice at www.voiceofmcdonalds.com to help decide who can advance in the competition.
Contact Tribune staff writer Ayana Jones at (215) 893-5747 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
