Keira Moran Reality Show Filming at Telegraph Station

If you stop by Telegraph Station for Keira Moran’s concert this Friday, you could be a part of a new reality show that she and her crew are filming.

Keira, a local 17-year-old singer and songwriter, will be producing the reality show with fellow students including Emily Dooley, the show's director. They will film the show, aptly titled “Giving Back,” from this week until June, as part of an ambitious project to raise money for the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria.

Cameras will be on Keira as she records a new album and plays live shows in the area and in London over spring break, as well as in Los Angeles, said James Moran, Keira’s father and son of U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-8th).

Where the show will ultimately broadcast is not yet concrete, but ideally, the filming will culminate in a big concert sometime in June, James said.

“We have enough to know that the show is going to get a certain amount of airplay, but we don’t know how much yet,” he said. “The main thing is to get people’s interest in this whole project so that by the time we get to June there will be enough interest for a big concert at a big venue.”

The hope is to raise $25,000 for the Scholarship Fund through sales of Keira’s new album, which she is producing with Paul Pappas of Alexandria band Virginia Coalition, and tickets to a big concert, he said. Contributions from sponsors would be an added bonus.

“It’s going to be a really intensive process, but one that’s well worth it,” Keira said.

This isn’t Keira’s first time donating to the Scholarship Fund of Alexandria. In November 2011, she donated 10 percent of the first-week sales of her debut album, “Wondergirl”—a total of more than $800. That’s the largest donation that any student has given to the fund, her father said.

Keira, a junior at T.C. Williams, won an online songwriting contest on Smashtune.com last year. Her song "When I'm With You" beat out songs from around the world for a trip to a songwriting conference in Hawaii. 

Advance tickets for Friday's concert at Telegraph Station sold out on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and it’s the fastest sell-out the venue has had so far. The show starts at 8:30 p.m., and Telegraph will make 15 to 20 more tickets available at the door on Friday, James said. 

Keira will be performing with classmates Chris Porter and Chris Kidd accompanying her on guitar and drums, respectively. She said she was excited to be performing with Shannon Fitzpatrick, a bassist from Ashburn. 

But that’s not all. Keira will also be accompanied by horn and string sections on some songs.

“This isn’t the same girl who entered that contest as an underdog and was able to pull it off,” her father said. “She is operating on a whole different level. It’s gonna be a show.”

Keira said she was particularly excited for Friday’s show at Telegraph. “We’re doing some new songs that I’ve never performed live before,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot from playing live gigs recently, but I still get butterflies before the show. I always want to do my best for everyone, so I’m just really excited about it and really excited to play some new music for everyone.”

Keira's album, "Wondergirl", can be purchased from iTunes and Amazon.com. 

----------------- 

Become a fan of Rose Hill Patch on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rosehillpatch.

You can also follow us on Twitter @RoseHillPatch and get Rose Hill Patch in your inbox by clicking on "Patch Newsletter" at the top of the site.