Each week, the LHS chorus classes allow students to showcase their talent. Multiple students perform each week for the highly anticipated “Performance Friday.” This section will display each performance and include interviews from the very talented performers. Here is one of last week’s performances:

Marisa Hickey, Grade 12:

I am singing “In My Dreams” from the Broadway musical Anastasia. I chose to sing this particular song because my vocal coach for audition season recommended this song because it was in my range, and I decided to listen to it. Immediately, I fell in love with it. The tension the music causes through its beautiful instrumentals, rhythms, and lyrics made me want to sing the song so much more. I was recording my college auditions later that day so Mr. Wyner and myself both thought it was a great idea to sing in class for a performance Friday to warm me up.

Q: How did you get started in music? Who are your greatest musical influences?

A. I got started in music when I was going into fourth grade because I thought joining chorus and band would be fun and it was another thing to do. I have fallen in love with music and the whole process since. Sadly, when I got into high school, I was not able to continue playing in band because of my schedule, but I was able to be in chorus Period 8 with Mr. J. Then, I auditioned for concert choir at the end of my freshman year, and I was luckily one of the eight people to get in that year.

Some of my musical influences have been my teachers. I love listening to certain performers like most teenagers, but I think my four school teachers– Mrs. Stella Kruh, Mr. Anthony Carollo, Mr. Krystian Jamrozek, and Mr. Barry Wyner–over the years truly made me become the musician I am today.

Q: Do you aspire to do anything with music in your future?

A: I actually plan on auditioning for the music performance program at college while minoring in musical theater. I hopefully will also participate in all the musicals, operas, acapella groups, and choirs, etc., that I can.

Q: What is your favorite part about Performance Friday and/or performing in general?

A: My favorite part about Performance Friday particularly is being able to be on the stage and just to do something that I know will make at least one person smile. Especially this year, due to COVID-19, I was so excited to learn that we were allowed to participate in one thing normally in the music department.

Q: Do you get nervous to perform in front of people, specifically your peers? How do you quell your nerves?

A.I used to get nervous to perform for a lot of people, and I still do a little bit. But as I got older I got more confident,  it’s just easier to perform in front of underclassman compared to upper. I don’t know why, but I know a lot of people feel the same way. I usually talk to people to get rid of the nerves when I do have them, but once the first note is sung, all the nerves got out of my body.

Q: What do you love most about music? Has music helped you in any way through the pandemic?

A. I love music that can make such an impact on someone based on the timbre, tone, and lyrics of the piece. Music has helped me a lot through this pandemic. I usually do listen to music almost 24/7, but through this pandemic, I definitely listened to music, especially pop, rock, and musical theater, more than I ever have before. It also helped me get through the longer, more stressful days.