From winning local singing competitions in Scotland to performing to sell-out crowds in Manila, Chloe Foston is a singer and performer. She found unexpected success channeling the iconic voice of Karen Carpenter. We sat down with her to discuss her remarkable journey, famous classmates, and what's next on her artistic horizon.

Let's start at the beginning. How did you first get involved in performing arts?

I started out as a piano player, then progressed to singing. I won various classical singing competitions in Angus County, Scotland, performing arias by Mozart and other classical composers. I actually won the Morrison Trophy for Best Junior Performer—beating the entire county. The competitions had professional adjudicators on the panel who came from places like the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. It was quite competitive, with about 30 singers, so coming in first place was special.

What do you consider your 'big break'?

My big break was gaining entry into the prestigious National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. The acceptance rate is only 6 percent—around 10,000 people apply for only 100 places. I then gained entry into the equally prestigious Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I was lucky to be one of twenty candidates accepted out of over 6,000 auditioners. Famous alumni of the National Youth Theatre include Dame Helen Mirren, Daniel Craig, and Daniel Day-Lewis. The Royal Conservatoire has produced talents like David Tennant, James McAvoy, Sam Heughan, Jack Lowden, and Robert Carlyle. It's extraordinarily tough to win a place there, but I did it first time. I saw lots of people who auditioned and didn't get in. But my biggest break would probably be getting flown out to the Philippines to perform as Karen Carpenter. It was a high accolade, especially considering I'm from a small town in Scotland.

You mentioned the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Any notable classmates?

James McAvoy and Tom Ellis—who plays Lucifer in the series—were in my class. That's how prestigious the school was. I was once James McAvoy's dance partner, actually. Dance was once a week, and I was partnered with him for jazz dancing. He was a brilliant dancer and excellent at acrobatics. Completely fearless physically. That's why he's so good in action movies—I could see his potential for that genre back at RCS. He was also brilliant at Shakespeare. It's interesting to see him making his directorial debut in Arbroath in Scotland recently. That's the town where I live.

Performers often have amusing stories from their early days. Any mishaps you can share?

I once played organ in a funeral parlor when my fingers were so cold that my performance was a disaster. The Minister made a joke out of it. It was funny—but not at the time!

Your career took an unexpected turn toward performing as Karen Carpenter. How did that come about?

It was my ability to sound like Karen Carpenter. Karen's lowest note was a D3, which is a very low note for a female. It's rare for a woman to sing that low, but I achieved it. This similarity led me to perform live as Karen on "It's Showtime" in the Philippines—a lunchtime show watched by millions on the ABS-CBN network. I also performed live as Karen Carpenter at Theatre Solaire in Manila to a sell-out crowd. After these performances, many people told me, "It is like listening to Karen." A true accolade as it was a live singing performance. I still get private messages from Filipino fans to this day saying things like, "You bring tears to my eyes whenever I hear, listen and watch your videos."

What other significant performances stand out in your career?

Playing The Witch from the musical "Into The Woods" for The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's 150th Anniversary was particularly memorable. It's one of the most challenging roles in musical theatre. The Musical Director was Robert Scott, who has worked on many West End musicals including "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "Mack and Mabel," "She Loves Me," and "Oliver!" I also did a pilot show called "The Stair" for BBC Scotland. People involved in the show went on to achieve big success with a Scottish sitcom called "Still Game." Sanjeev Kohli was one of the writers, and he became one of the major parts of "Still Game," which is quite a famous sitcom in Scotland.

What's the worst piece of advice anyone's ever given you?

"Get a normal job and stop chasing rainbows."

And what advice would you give to others in your field?

"Don't give up and don't be scared to upload your performances online as you never know who is watching. Had I not been brave enough to do that, the Philippines would never have happened." I uploaded performances on YouTube and Facebook. I did have over 5,000 followers on Facebook but I got hacked. YouTube was how I got spotted for the Philippines. They found out my name and emailed me or contacted me on LinkedIn.

Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

I wish I had the bravery earlier on in my career to upload my performances online. It's a daunting process, but you never know who is watching. I also wish I had worked harder at the piano. I wish I could be better because it would mean I could sing Karen Carpenter songs and accompany myself like Richard Carpenter, but I'm working on that.

What has experience taught you? What is the biggest lesson you've learned?

Experience has taught me to be continually hardworking. I see my portrayal of Karen Carpenter as my unfinished project, as there's always so much to improve on—her sound, breath control, mannerisms, American accent, and also the drums. Drumming and singing combined requires a lot of work.

Who was your mentor when you started out in this profession?

My mother. She had worked as a PA at Perth Rep and worked with a lot of big names, including Sean Connery. She was my best coach. Her innate instincts taught me to be a better actress, singer, and musician. My mother was the spitting image of Sandy Shaw, the 1960s' pop star. She was an undiscovered star and extremely beautiful. She modelled for photographers' portfolios, though sadly she wasn't tall enough for catwalk work.

What projects are you hoping to work on soon?

I've been very lucky to have been asked to perform in the United States, and I'm currently working on my visa. This comes after recently completing a big tour of the Philippines, which was very successful. Two of the biggest venues were Theatre Solaire and Newport World Resorts.

How would your peers describe you?

Hardworking, imaginative, brave, and resilient.

Finally, what is your proudest achievement to date?

Performing live on "It's Showtime" in the Philippines. It was watched by millions, and the reception was incredible. To receive such warm appreciation so far from home was truly special.