published: Friday, August 15, 2008

Sebring graduate's voice heard across the nation

News-Sun staff

If you have 'tweens or youngsters in the house and they are tuned in to everything and anything that is Hannah Montana, chances are pretty likely that you will soon hear the voice of a 1990 graduate of Sebring High School and didn't even know it.

Caryn Clark, known as "The Hip Chick Voice" and a professional voice over actress in Fort Myers, has been cast to be the voice in five television commercials for various Hannah Montana products. The commercials will be broadcast across the nation on cable stations such as Nickelodeon and Disney.

Caryn Slovenski moved to Sebring in 1983 from Pennsylvania a an 11-year-old. She attended Sebring Middle School, graduated from Sebring High School and then received a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1994 from the University of Florida.

After graduation she packed her bags and moved to New York City to work in the financial industry in marketing.

It was while living in New York City that her brother recommended she look into doing voice overs. He knew her love for singing, but Clark admits she "wasn't really that good at it."

"It was a way to use my voice, and my speech is fairly unaccented. I had no idea what voice over even was. I found a coach, took classes, made a demo, but then didn't really do anything with it until about three years ago," she said.

In the meantime, Caryn Slovenski became Caryn Clark, marrying her fiance' Tony, whom she followed to Fort Myers.

It was in Fort Myers that Caryn Clark met Randy Thomas, "my mentor and voice over hero.

Clark said Thomas (www.randythomasvo.com) is the voice of the Academy Awards, Tony Awards, and is heard everyday on Entertainment Tonight and The Insider. "Many might recognize her as the voice of Hooked on Phonics back in the '80s and '90s (1-800-A B C D E F G). When I decided to try voice over again, I contacted her ... and well, here I am. Her guidance has been immeasurable," Clark said.

Clark said she has not met Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, but, she has had the opportunity to work with and meet a few celebrities. "I did a radio commercial with Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Indians last summer, and my voice has recently been paired with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a radio commercial for the Michigan International Speedway."

Clark is the owner of VoiceChick Productions LLC, and has an ISDN-equipped professional studio that enables her to record worldwide. She has been heard on VH-1, Disney, Nickelodeon, XM Satellite Radio, and other television and radio stations, as well as Web sites, across the nation and around the world. Commercials include: Neopets, VH-1's Rock of Love Season One DVD, Hannah Montana Fashion Collection, Charter Cable, AdoptFlorida.org, and many others.

Mediums she works in include television and radio commercials, video games, Web and corporate presentation narrations, and telephone messaging.

For additional information, visit www.CarynClark.net.