I still remember my first singing role as the Pied Piper of Hamilon in the Michigan Opera Theater Children's Chorus. When I received the email congratulating me on being cast as an understudy. My only thought was, “What's an understudy?” After the first rehearsal, Mrs. Hochella, our conductor, pulled me aside. “Understudies are the most important part of a show. When someone can’t perform, the understudy has all of their parts ready to perform at a moment's notice”, she said. I then realized the importance of my role and understood she believed I could do it. I practiced my part as much as I could until the day I received another email. Our Pied Piper was injured and couldn’t perform. I was the understudy; I was the one to take over the role. I could feel the panic setting in as I doubted all the work I put in. Would I be able to rise to the occasion? Mrs. Hochella believed in me. As I went on as the Pied Piper, my parents and friends were so proud of me. Most importantly, I was proud of myself. I look back fondly on this memory, not remembering mistakes, but my first taste of performing. After a rebrand, the Detroit Opera Youth Chorus prepared for its production of H.M.S Pinafore. Even with much more experience, I still get nervous for auditions. Watching Pinafore, I fell in love with Josephine, a character of such sorrow, but also silly. I had practiced my audition cut every day for weeks leading up to the audition, and I was called back! I was ecstatic. And when I received the email that I had gotten the role, I jumped up and down! It truly was meant to be. After months of rehearsals, when I walked onto the stage of the Detroit Opera House, my worries vanished, and I stepped into my light. These experiences shaped me into the person I am today. People like Mrs. Hochella and many others have supported my dreams and made them achievable. I want to go to school for voice performance because my love for theater and music has only grown since my first role. In 10 years, I see myself teaching and inspiring kids, as all of my music teachers have inspired me. I want to be the person who lifts others up and makes them strive to be their best, so that even if someone doesn’t have the resources or the money to receive training or watch performances, they will have the opportunity. Because I was given that opportunity, and if circumstances were different, I wouldn’t be who I am today. In college, I will gain a greater community than I already see in all of my activities. I want to develop my skills and harness my talents to reach my full potential, so that I can be an example to others of what can be done and use those skills to share my passion for the arts with others. I’ve already begun that journey by volunteering as a coach for younger students in choir at my school, using my knowledge to prepare them for competitions and festivals like MSVMA solo and ensemble. A lot of these students can’t afford private lessons, and I don’t want that to limit anyone in persueing there artistic needs. I’ve already come this far; I need to follow the path my family and mentors helped carve for me. After all, if I don’t push myself to succeed, what will that prove to all the people I wish to inspire?

I still remember my first singing role as the Pied Piper of Hamilon in the Michigan Opera Theater Children's Chorus. When I received the email congratulating me on being cast as an understudy. My only thought was, “What's an understudy?” After the first rehearsal, Mrs. Hochella, our conductor, pulled me aside. “Understudies are the most important part of a show. When someone can’t perform, the understudy has all of their parts memorized and is ready to perform at a moment's notice”, she said. I then realized the importance of my role and understood she believed I could do it. I practiced my part as much as I could until the day I received another email. Our Pied Piper was injured and couldn’t perform. I was the understudy; I was the one to take over the role. I could feel the panic setting in as I doubted all the work I put in. Would I be able to rise to the occasion? Mrs. Hochella believed in me. As I went on as the Pied Piper, my parents and friends were so proud of me. Most importantly, I was proud of myself. I look back fondly on this memory, not remembering mistakes, but my first real taste of performing. After a rebrand, the Detroit Opera Youth Chorus prepared for its production of H.M.S Pinafore. Now, older and with much more experience, I still get nervous for auditions. Watching Pinafore, I fell in love with Josephine, a character of such sorrow, but silly all the while. I had practiced my audition cut every day for weeks leading up to the audition, and I was called back! I was ecstatic. Waiting weeks for results, I had tried to take my mind off it, but when I received the email that I had gotten the role, I jumped up and down! It truly was meant to be. After months of rehearsals, when I walked onto the stage of the Detroit Opera House, my worries vanished, and I stepped into my light. These experiences shaped me into the person I am today. People like Mrs. Hochella and many others have supported my dreams and made them achievable. I want to go to school for voice performance because my love for theater and music has only grown since my first role. In 10 years, I see myself teaching and inspiring kids, as all of my music teachers have inspired me. I want to be the person who lifts others up and makes them strive to be their best, so that even if someone doesn’t have the resources or the money to receive training or watch performances, they will have the opportunity. In college, I will gain a greater community than I already see in all of my activities. I want to develop my skills and harness my talents to reach my full potential, so that I can be an example to others of what can be done and use those skills to share my passion for the arts with others. I’ve already begun that journey by volunteering as a coach for younger students in choir at my school, using my knowledge to prepare them for competitions and festivals like MSVMA solo and ensemble. A lot of these students can’t afford private lessons, and I don’t want that to limit anyone in persueing there artistic needs. I’ve already come this far; I need to follow the path my family and mentors helped carve for me. After all, if I don’t push myself to succeed, what will that prove to all the people I wish to inspire?