Most kids dream of becoming a veterinarian, teacher or firefighter, but for Cassandra Star Armstrong, she said she has never thought of being anything other than a performer.
“I’ve honestly never thought of anything else,” Cassandra said. “I’ve always been singing and humming and dancing and I love to make people happy.”
At just 10 years old Cassandra has already performed with Broadway stars, started a popular story time series on her YouTube channel and recorded a multitude of songs.
Cassandra captured the attention and hearts of the Fort Frances community at the start of the pandemic last April by starting a story time series where she would read and re-enact children’s books such as The Paper Bag Princessand Rock Away Granny. The story time was developed as a way to connect the community.
“A lot of kids in Fort Frances and around Ontario are really sad, lonely and they can’t really see their friends… and I knew that books were comforting so I knew it would help,” Cassandra said.
She said adults and children have sent her videos to tell her how much her story times have helped them through the pandemic and that she is very grateful for the support and kindness she’s received from people in the community.
Not long after, Cassandra and her mother Nikki were contacted by award-winning author and singer/songwriter, Carolyn Sloan, telling them how much she enjoyed Cassandra’s story time of her book Welcome to the Symphony.From there a friendship grew and Cassandra was given the opportunity of a lifetime.
Cassandra collaborated with Broadway stars and New York City musicians to record Give Love, written by Sloan in 2015 for a children’s choir. This is the first time it has been professionally recorded.