How long have you been performing?
I performed in the theater program throughout all four years of high school.

Do you have any formal training?
? I have a bit of formal training with Megan Schuitema, our wonderful chorus teacher at Harrison High School, and Vanessa Graniero from Jan Smith Studios

What’s one of your favorite performing moments?
My favorite moment performing has to be when I performed Afterglow by Ed Sheeran for our high school theater program’s final Senior Showcase Sendoff Show called Take a Bow. 

I had intended to play a couple songs that night, but ended up dropping them, as I wasn’t prepared enough. I resorted to Afterglow because I could play it well, and I could sing it well. It kind of felt like a cop-out and I was a bit disappointed, but I knew I loved the song. So showtime came…I was nervous. It was my first time performing the type of music I actually enjoyed listening to and playing. Not only that, but I had blanked out and forgotten the lyrics earlier that night in a rehearsal. That said, my excitement took over because I was more confident in myself and my ability than in times past.

When I got on stage, I was able to crack a few honest jokes at my expense, relieve tension, and wash away nerves. I played and I played, and I sang and I sang. It felt great, it went smoothly, and I think I touched a few hearts. Not to mention…It was fun. All that…made it worthwhile.

Do you want to give anyone a shoutout?
I’d love to give a shoutout to my awesome, fantastic, stupendous, and oh so spectacular mom, friends, and family that have and continue to support me

Who are your musical influences?
Well I’m performing Somebody to Love, so it’s safe to say Queen is a big influence, Freddie Mercury in particular because of his voice. Elton John’s also a big influence. He’s a big part of why I started learning piano. John Mayer, he’s a guitar inspiration, and I grew up listening to room for squares in the car with my mom. Oh, Phillip Phillips-after my dad died my mom and I listened to his album, Behind the Light, a ton. We got to see him in concert at The Alliance Theater, and I got to
meet him. He’s definitely an inspiration. I also listen to a lot of pop artists such as Charlie Puth (who was a big inspiration in starting to learn how to produce), Lauv, Justin Bieber, Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish & Finneas, Shawn Mendes, and Jon Bellion.

In a way, these artists have been a huge part of what has allowed me to improve my voice over time, especially those last three, Billie Eilish & Finneas, Shawn Mendes, and John Bellion. I used to hate my talking voice, and in turn didn’t love my singing voice, but I noticed the tone of Shawn Mendes’s voice had similar qualities to mine that, like I said before, I hadn’t previously liked. I kept listening to him and slowly became more confident and aware of the fact that there isn’t one particularly favorable or preferred voice that sounds good AND voices don’t have to sound angelic straight out of the womb, haha.

Billie Eilish and Finneas were inspiring to me, and I’m sure millions of others, in showing the world that you can make phenomenal music right at home. As for Jon Bellion, he was an artist I didn’t know much about or think much of. I initially only
knew two songs by him, but I eventually checked out his other stuff, and he’s a lyrical magician, that, and he ALSO has motivated me to learn how to produce.

What are your musical goals?
Well, I’d love to continue performing, and eventually I’d like to make making music a career. Music makes me happy, so I just hope whatever I’m able to make, whatever climbs out of my soul and onto a page or into some music software, makes others happy too, and if not happy, well then…related to.

What do you do when you’re not performing?
Right now, I’m taking a gap year to pursue passions and travel a bit. My two main passions are music (which is why this felt like such a fun and great opportunity) and acting, which is why I was in theater in high school, haha. I also write—in addition to writing song lyrics I love to journal—anything that comes to mind, I guess. I draw a bit—my dad was a professional artist, so I take after him a little. Oh, and I rock climb sometimes.