A phone call changed her life.

In December 2008, Louisville junior Bryttnee Price got a call from her old friend about an audition for a gospel group.

“Everyone I know always tells me to audition for things and become a singer,” Price said. “That was never what I wanted to do.”

After some encouragement, Price decided to go for it.

“I had to get over my fear, stop being stubborn and embrace my gift.”

Price, an elementary education major and musical theater minor auditioned for American Idol in the summer of 2008. She has been in Western productions such as “Violet,” and sang in other banquets and African-American dance class performances.

A singer since fourth grade, Price didn’t discover gospel until she was 12 years old.

“I wasn’t raised in the church, so I was never really exposed to it,” she said.

When she started attending Peace Presbyterian in Louisville with her middle school friend, Price said she found the family she never had.

“I loved the people so I kept going to the church,” she said. “They were quick to give hugs and say, ‘I love you.’ My family didn’t always do that.”

Price, whose mother is a nurse and works long hours, said she learned to be independent early.

She said she would sing at school events and often, her family wasn’t there, but her church members were.

“There’s no resentment at all,” Price said. “My mom came when she could, but she had three of us to take care of so I understood.”

Price had an average childhood, though she didn’t get to know her father well until she was a teen. That initial absence and sudden return when he moved back in inspired her to write poetry.

“With that experience, I finally had a way to interpret my confusion into something I could understand,” she said.

Now, Price uses her old poetic abilities to develop her song-writing skills.

A song-writing challenge was also a requirement for the audition. Though Price missed the song-writing day for a previous singing commitment, she earned a place in the group.

“I was afraid they would doubt my professionalism – I thought my chance was over,” she said. “The fact that I was chosen proves that it was something I had nothing to do with. God put me here – there’s nothing else I can say.”

Price said the support of her friends and family who know about her musical pursuits helps her stay focused.

Though she sometimes finds it hard to balance academics and her music, Price said the opportunity is worth changing her plans to teach.

“School will always be here,” she said. “I’m gonna take this chance and see where it goes … I can always come back to school.”

Price looks forward to her future in the 16-member contemporary gospel ensemble, which is finalizing a name. With them, from all denominations, she has found another family.

“Just like a painter feels the urge to create and needs no reason for it, I create with music because anyone can connect to it,” Price said. “It’s a powerful gift and I don’t take it lightly.”