Q: Why did you start playing?
My brother [Sam] played the violin so I started taking lessons when I
was four. A few years ago I started taking voice lessons. My teacher at
school said I should take lessons and really started to help me with
musical theater and how to act when you’re singing and some technique.
My grandpa, who is a singer, said I should start to make sure that I’m
singing the right way. After that I started doing more productions like
musicals.
Q: So, which do you prefer, violin or singing?
Singing. It comes easy to me and I like being up on stage. There are also other aspects like acting with musical theatre.
Q: Have any performances stuck out in your mind as more memorable than others?
The first song that I learned was “Giants in the Sky” by Stephen
Sondheim - from Into the Woods the musical. A couple of years after
that, when I was in 5th grade, my school did a production of Into the
Woods and I got to sing the song again.
Q: What would your dream performance be?
It would probably be a big production like Phantom of the Opera - one of the first shows I saw on Broadway – or Cats.
Q: Do you have a favorite song?
I really like “Caro mio ben” by Tommaso Giordani. I got it from a
book called 26 Italian Songs and Arias. It’s in my range and it is the
song that I sing most frequently.
Q: What are you interests outside of music?
I really like computers. I’m always making movies and playlists and things like that.
Q: How would you describe your 10 years at the Community Music Division?
I like it a lot. Between [DePaul Youth] Orchestra and Elise
[Dalleska]’s other students, I know a lot of other violinists. Orchestra
is probably my favorite violin activity. I know everyone here and I
like being around them.