Watch for St. Charles North Alum Jeffrey Austin on 'The Voice'

Photo credit: The Voice website

You may notice a familiar face when watching The Voice.

St. Charles North graduate Jeffrey Austin is appearing on this season of the popular reality TV show. He got his musical start growing up in St. Charles. As a child, Austin was in the choir at Haines Middle School in St. Charles, singing in the musical, “Once On This Island,” and went on to star in the production of “Man of La Mancha” during his senior year at St. Charles North, according to the Daily Herald.

Haines Middle School teacher Judy Lynn Mastalski saw Austin’s talent at a young age and recruited him to join the show choir, according to the Daily Herald.

“No one had ever validated me like that before,” Austin told the newspaper. “She saw that I was enjoying myself, and that I loved to perform. It built me up. I needed that push to get started.”

Austin had a tough childhood. His father died when he was 9 years old and Austin grew up with his mom, grandparents and brother, according to his profile on The Voice website. At age 16, with the support of his family, Jeffrey came out after years of trying to hide his sexuality.

Jeffrey Austin is a part of “Team Gwen,” lead by the celebrity judge on the show Gwen Stefani. Another Chicago native, Hannah Ashbrook, of Mount Prospect, is on Team Gwen.

• Hersey Alum Hannah Ashbrook to Appear on ‘The Voice’

The Voice airs every Monday at 7 p.m. and Tuesday at 8 p.m. on NBC.