Highlights
- Alicia George discovered singing as a way to communicate with her brother who has Down's syndrome and severe autism
- Ms Geroge competed on Channel Seven's "The Voice"
- While she didn't advance to the next round, she got to sing a duet with her idol, Guy Sebastian
Ms George, whose father is from northern Lebabon and whose mother is of Fijian and Indian descent, said she had discovered from a young age that singing was a way to communicate with her younger brother, Anthony Charbel.
Anthony was born with severe autism and would otherwise live “in a world of his own”, she said.
Ms George said she used music, including singing and dancing, to interact with her brother.
Speaking after her audition on “The Voice”, Ms George said she had sung the Guy Sebastian song “…as a sister”.
“(My brother) does have Down’s syndrome and he’s non-verbal and the song that you wrote, it really speaks to me and it’s something that we can share with each other and I just really appreciate that,” she said.
Music can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people, but for me, it means communicating with my brother.
She said auditioning on the TV show “The Voice” had been a thrill especially when one of the judges and a personal idol of hers, Mr Sebastian, jumped up on the stage to sing with her.
Even though she had not been successful in proceeding through to the next stage of the competition, Ms George said she was grateful to have had the experience.
"It was an honour to sing with Guy because he has always been one of my favourite singers and when we sang together, I felt as if I was also honouring my brother,” she said.
“It was a beautiful moment that I will remember forever."
Ms George said she relished having such a diverse family background because of all of the different influences she could tap into, not to mention the wide variety of food.
Alicia George with her brother Anthony (left) and on stage during "The Voice". Source: Alicia George, Channel 7
I’ve never met anyone in the world with the same background as me. It feels completely unique. It's really nice to have a diversity experience.
Ms George’s father, Toufic Charbel, said he couldn’t be prouder of both of his children.
He spoke about his father’s migration to Australia, leaving his hometown of Howeta in northern Lebanon.
“I am proud of my daughter who has always taken care of others as well as her brother,” he said.
“She plans on studying medicine so she can support other children just as she has always supported her brother.”
Verna Charbel, Ms George’s mother, said caring for their son had been demanding but that her daughter’s singing had been a healing influence on the family in tough times.
Alicia with her father Toufic, mother Verna and little brother Anthony Charbel. Source: Alicia George
"Anthony has undergone a lot of operations, and he can't communicate with us by talking, but he uses his own way of asking for things from us and he loves his food a lot and Alicia’s voice," Mrs Charbel said.
"Your biggest supporter in this world is yourself. If you have a dream and want to achieve it, I think you can."
