West Ridge Academy

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 Benefit Concert August 25th at 7:00pm  in the Athletic Center

      5500 West Bagley Park Road, West Jordan, UT 84081

 Public  is Welcomed and Invited

    Tickets $10.00-  Call  801-282-1087 between 8:00 am-4:00 pm to reserve your tickets

Doors will open at 6:00 pm general admissions

For more information and updates like us on facebook and tell your friends about this incredible opportunity to support Emmanuel in helping struggling youth everywhere. 100% of proceeds will go to benefit the students and families of WRA.

Emmanuel Kelly Loves West Ridge Academy

Despite a disadvantaged start in life with limb deficiencies, a result of chemical warfare, Emmanuel Kelly dreams big of being a star. Emmanuel was born amid a war zone in Iraq, abandoned by his parents and left in a park in Baghdad.

In 2011 with his audition for the reality music competition X Factor Australia, Emmanuel delivered one of the most moving talent show performances of them all. As Emmanuel takes the stage he fails at holding back his signature smile but holding back his infectious smile is the only thing this remarkable teen fails at. His journey to the X Factor stage is truly extraordinary, once without an identity, Emmanuel Kelly has already made a name for himself as he exemplifies the true meaning of success.

Emmanuel and his adopted brother Ahmed were both born without arms and legs but for Moira Kelly, it was love at first sight. “You could look at them as disfigured but to me they were just so perfect,” she said. Moira adopted the two boys and brought them back to her homeland, Australia for life changing surgery. Both boys were fitted with prosthetic limbs, allowing them to walk. “She’s given us more love than anyone could imagine,” Emmanuel says warmly of his mother.

After Emmanuel shares his remarkable story on the X Factor stage, he begins his audition, beautifully singing “Imagine” by John Lennon. Leaving the judges in tears and bringing the audience to its feet. X Factor judge, Ronan Keating was full of praise for Emmanuel, “I don’t think I’ve ever been moved as I was by that performance,” he said. His heartfelt performance even drew praise from John Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono who tweeted “Thank you, Emmanuel. You sang beautifully! John would have been proud of you. Love, Yoko.”

Emmanuel says “It was more than magic” to be on X Factor, words could not describe what I was feeling on that stage,” he said. “When I got up and started singing, there was nothing else. Adrenalin just took over. It was just a blur.” Emmanuel says he believes he has a gift. “Singing is what I love doing. I just want to sing and I want to make people happy.”

Emmanuel says that nothing in his life has held him back and that he is not looking for sympathy. “I have actually been through nothing compared to some of the other kids I have met. I don’t want people to look at me perform and go: ‘Wow that is
brave.’ I want people to look at me and go, ‘Wow, he has got a really good voice’ or ‘Wow, he is going to go far in life,’ not, ‘Wow, that is brave for him to do that’.”

Now a YouTube sensation topping over 12 million views, the world too has fallen in love with Emmanuel Kelly. It’s quite an achievement for this teen from Iraq born in a warzone without limbs and abandoned in a park. Emmanuel inspires both with his
singing voice and with his voice of encouragement reminding us all that regardless of our circumstances, we can transcend above all limitations and… dream big.