- “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPKpkrqBwNs
- My grandmother passed away my junior year of high school from Alzheimer’s disease. During the last 3 years or so of her life, it was very difficult for her to communicate, and often she would begin humming church hymns, this one being one of her favorites. During the last year of her life when she was completely bedridden, I would go to her house and sing with her to church music that neither of us really knew, although we both tired to sing along (well she hummed, I made up notes). Music, especially church hymns, were how I communicated with my grandmother for the last few years of her life.
- “You’ll Be in My Heart” from Tarzan
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIVaUcE4kAM
- I grew up watching Tarzan; it has always been one of my favorite movies. I have a baby doll I received my first Christmas that I named Tarzan, and still have the doll to this day. Whenever I hear this song, I am brought back to my childhood. I also performed music from Tarzan the first year I made it into my high school show choir, which was a childhood dream come true.
- “Audition” from 42nd Street
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH9WxKZc5ko
- This song is the opening number in the musical 42nd Street, which is my favorite show that I have been in and my senior year musical. I graduated from an arts school within my high school, so it was always competitive to land a larger role in a show. I played Andy Lee, which was the biggest role I ever played in a musical, and I also was featured as a tap soloist in this big number. I was so proud to be the featured for the opening number of the show in front of the whole cast as they tapped behind me. It’s rare that a high school can do a complex full tap number, but we could because of our arts program.
- “There’s No Rose of Such Virtue” by Kevin Memley
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzZw1KS_sXs
- This is my favorite choral piece I have ever performed. It is one of the few pieces that I could continually work on for over half a year and never get tired performing or practicing it. Even after preforming it all Christmas season with my show choir, my fellow show choir members and I never stopped improving on the piece to perform at contest and for our final showcase. Working on this piece taught me that even mastered music can always be improved on to be made more beautiful.
- “For Good” from Wicked
- Although it is cliché, Wicked is my favorite musical, and has been since I saw it in 6th grade (I have since seen the show two more times). This is song in particular in the show is powerful to me because it can apply to anyone, whether in context of the show or not. If I could never see someone who played an important part in my life again, this song would be the words I want him or her to hear. It emphasizes the lasting, positive effect two people can have on one an other, and I really resonate with the statement, “I have been changed for good”, when it pertains to another person. I strive to change others for good, and I know so many others who have done that for me.
- “When I Grow Up” from Matilda the Musical
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96JDkI2tBhI
- I took dance recreationally at Upstage Dance Studio since I was four years old; I grew up in the studio with my friends. This song was the one I performed for my senior solo the last year I went to the studio. The theme of the dance recital that year was musicals, and I think my teacher picked that theme my senior year because she knew how much I loved musicals so I could pick any musical song I wanted for my solo. I chose this one from Matilda because I could pretend to be a kid again throughout the dance, but transition to my college-bound self at the end of the piece.
- “Fleur des Blés” by Count Debussy
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6JdMPqT85o
- Although this is not one of my favorite songs, it is on this list because I am proud that I over came it. I sang this song at Solo and Ensemble my senior year of high school in front of a judge and received a one (the highest rank) on my performance. Out of all of the solos I have sang, this was the most difficult I have had to do. The piano and the voice are completely independent, it was the first A piece I was taking as a solo, and it was in French when I was reading the words like Spanish. I had to work very hard on this piece, but it paid off and I can still sing it all today.
- “Absolutely Everybody” by Vanessa Amorosi
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZNYwabOpyk
- I have known every word to this song since sixth grade when my social studies teacher, Mr. Heidi, introduced it to me. It was his favorite song, and he played it in the mornings or before tests to pump us up. Although I forget about the song from time to time, to this day it can still create a level of joy and excitement in me when I hear it. It also has a great message today that is true now more than ever: everyone needs other people, everyone needs support, everyone needs love.