Music
Growing up with a mother who taught piano, I remember begging to learn to play instruments from a very early age. Although I wasn’t allowed to take formal lessons before I turned seven, we have the first recording of me singing a rather endearing rendition of “Tinkle Tinkle Little Star” (I hadn’t quite mastered the “tw” sound) when I had just turned two, and I started singing in my first choir at five. In second grade my parents allowed me to begin piano lessons; two years later, I added the harp to my repertoire. Thanks to the guidance of my wonderful teachers, I won awards at the National Federation of Music Clubs Festivals and the National Guild of Piano Teachers. Although I am no longer part of an orchestra, I still play harp and piano and sing today.
In third grade I auditioned against hundreds of other children from 3rd through 7th grade for one of about four openings in the Bob Jones University Press (BJU Press) children’s recording choir. The small group worked with industry professionals in a state-of-the-art recording studio to produce all the CDs that are sold to schools internationally with the BJU Press textbooks. To my utter delight, I made it into the group on my first audition. During my time with in with the choir, I recorded six CDs in two languages with the group and as a solo artist until my “retirement” in 7th grade. Today the CDs are still sold in stores around the world and online.
During high school I was so fortunate to work with the amazingly talented Jim and Tina Broussard as my voice teachers. In college I studied at Clemson University under the fabulous Dr. Lisa Odom. There is so much I could say about astounding accomplishments about all three of these remarkable voice teachers, and I’ll so grateful for each of them!