San Ramon Teen: Disney's Next Big Thing?

Could San Ramon's 13-year-old Amber Lily, currently a freshman at Dougherty Valley High School, become Disney's "Next Big Thing?"

The new season of Next Big Thing premiered on Radio Disney and the Disney Channel yesterday, featuring our hometown girl.

In a pre-show interview, Lily told Radio Disney, "I'm so excited. This is really huge. Only five people are selected to be on the show from around the country. It's an honor to be part of it."

A Star Is Born

No kidding. In addition to receiving national exposure from the show, if chosen, Lily could win the opportunity to have a single released by Disney Music Group and open for the Disney-backed band Allstar Weekend at a special holiday performance.

Lily's mother, Maria Solberg, recently explained to Patch that "Lily" is Amber's stage name. Friends and family know her better as Amber Solberg.

Students at Hidden Hills Elementary and Windemere Ranch Middle School might remember her performances at annual talent shows but probably never realized she was both a singer and songwriter.

On Next Big Thing, Lily will sing two upbeat, pop / R&B songs, "222 L8," a song she co-wrote and "Next to You," a song she wrote all by herself.

From San Ramon to Hollywood

Her mother says, "Amber began singing when she was 5 years old. In fact, her first singing lessons were at a summer camp at the San Ramon Community Center."

From there she started participating in vocal competitions around the Bay Area, then graduated to musical theater, performing at Berkeley Repertoire Theatre and Ray of Light Theatre in San Francisco.  

An agent once suggested that she consider auditioning for Broadway plays, but her mom says, "We decided that commuting to New York for auditions wasn't practical."

Instead, the family chose to focus on auditions in Los Angeles.

Solberg says, "We've trekked up and down Interstate 5 more times than I can remember for auditions, performances and meetings with agents, managers and producers."

All that hard work seems to have paid off. For the next two weeks, Lily will be featured on Next Big Thing now through Sept. 28.

During this showcase, people will be able to vote for Lily online and via text messages. There will be an additional voting period from Nov. 24 to 30.

In a recently YouTube video, Lily says, "Tell everyone you know...tell your mom, your dog, your sister...yell to people on the street ... use Facebook, Twitter–help us spread the word."

Vote For Amber Lily

To vote for Lily, go to RadioDisney.com or text "NBT" to DISNEY (347639).

Her videos will also be featured on Disney.com, the N.B.T. mobile website and Radio Disney's YouTube Channel.