High School: Davidson Academy Online
Post-Graduation Plans: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Course of Study: Architecture
How much can change in a mere two years?
I moved to Seattle in the summer of 2024 after spending the first 16 years of my life growing up in Portland, Oregon. The move came with lots of fears about being able to establish myself in a new place. Moreover, being a fully online schooled student, I was afraid I wouldn’t find a way to connect to my local community, and that my time in this city would just end up being transient and forgettable. Finding SGC and becoming a part of Prime Voci put all those worries to rest.
Auditioning into Prime Voci at the start of my junior year was one of the best things that ever happened to me, as being in Prime Voci has allowed me to build valuable connections and create several cherished memories through my love of music. Who knew that within two years I’d be performing in one of the most beautiful churches in West Seattle, or that I’d be preparing to travel Europe for the first time with 30 of my favorite people? And it’s not just the big concerts and trips that have been monumental moments in my experience with SGC’s community. Just being able to sit side by side, share a snack, and bond over a passion for singing with my friends in rehearsal has become something I’ve looked forward to every week without fail.
Being in SGC has also pushed me to grow immensely as a musician. Prime Voci is one of the most advanced high school choirs I have ever encountered; I remember walking out of my audition partly filled with disbelief that I had gotten in, and also filled with an unspeakable amount of gratefulness that I was given such a rare and valuable opportunity. Every rehearsal brings new challenges that we are encouraged to tackle head-on, from quickly digesting stacks of new music to perfecting our rhythm and intonation. In Prime Voci I’m singing music that’s challenging to learn, beautiful to hear, and above all fun to sing. Both my voice and my musicianship skills have become so much stronger over the past two years, and although there were times where I might’ve gotten frustrated with a piece of music, I can’t say that I’ve ever disliked any song that Prime Voci has thrown my way. Finally, being a part of Prime Voci has encouraged me to take more charge of my life, both in and out of choir. 5 hours of rehearsal each week is a significant time commitment, and learning 15 songs each semester is no easy feat. Being in Prime Voci has pushed me to find ways to better balance my passions in music with my obligations in school, skills that I know will support me well beyond my time in SGC.
SGC has become a root, an anchor, that many of my fondest memories of Seattle are now centered around. As I head off to college far away from home, my two years here in Seattle haven’t been as fleeting and inconsequential as I initially expected them to be, but instead have become my favorite years of my life so far. I’ve grown as a person as much as I have grown as a musician, and I’m glad to say my time in Prime Voci has played a pivotal role in launching me into the next chapter of my future.