Five recordings to her credit. National television exposure. Entertainment for Barack Obama, the Emperor of Japan and Pope Francis. To say Jackie Evancho has accomplished a lot for 15-year-old is an understatement.
The Pittsburgh native takes her success in stride. "I'm always excited for any concert I do," Evancho said Tuesday during a phone interview to promote her Sunday, Sept. 27, stop at the State Theatre in Easton.
This weekend, fans can expect to hear a mix of personal favorites from her various releases and even a few tunes that she has not recorded, Evancho said. "For my recent concerts, I've been kind surprising audiences," she said.
Evancho first gained mainstream attention in 2010 during the fifth season of NBC's America's Got Talent (she finished in second place) -- less than a year after releasing her debut album, Prelude to a Dream, at the age of 9; impressing judges with her classically-suited pipes.
Evancho said seeing the 2004 film adaptation of Phantom of the Opera was her gateway into classical music. "It kind really clicked with me the first time I heard that style," she said.
Dream with Me, Evancho's 2011 second full-length release, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Her third full-length effort, Awakening, dropped in September 2014.
On Awakening, Evancho straddles the line between her classical background and contemporary pop territory (in which she covers U2 and music from HBO's Game of Thrones television series). The album grabbed the top spot of Billboard's Classical Albums chart.
Despite the trend of many young performers, Evancho has no intention of going full-blown pop in the foreseeable future (though she did say Lana Del Rey is one of her favorite artists). "I definitely have freedom to be myself, to be me. I don't often fall victim to pressure," she said. "I don't think I'll ever go fully in that direction."
Evancho later revealed during the interview that fame does come with a price. She admitted that being on national television does not exclude her from juggling homework -- Evancho attends public school -- and the growing pains of the classroom. "I try to ignore (comments from other students) to a certain level, but if it gets too bad, I'll say something to them," Evancho said.
That has not stopped Evancho from remaining cheerfully optimistic about her future. "I think I just want to keep singing and just keep growing to be a great performer, who can inspire a lot of people," she said.
Singer Jackie Evancho performs 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the State Theatre in Easton. Tickets cost $55 and $50. Tickets and information: statetheatre.org