W
hen your entourage includes backup dancers, your own band and the occasional Latin Grammy-winning producer, you know youâre going places in the music world. For senior Ariel Snihur, itâs nothing out of the ordinary. Known by her stage name, Ariel Rose, the singer has been on the music scene since she was six years old. âI was watching the Macyâs Thanksgiving Day Parade and there was this girl singing âRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,â she said. âI just remember thinking that I wanted to sing exactly like her⌠and it just came out. My parents were cooking the turkey and they came into the room, shocked. At that moment I knew that I wanted to sing for the rest of my life.â From there, Snihurâs mother wasted no time enrolling her in musical theater classes and voice lessons. Gaining experience at the Hollywood Arts and Cultural Center and the Miracle Theatre, Snihur quickly discovered that she wanted to take this dream to a professional level. She released her first CDâ with songs in English and Spanish, to cater to the South Florida audienceâ when she was 15-years-old. âGrowing up, lots of teachers and different people would ask me âWhatâs your Plan B?ââ Snihur said. âBut my parents always told me that I donât need one, that I need to follow my dreams.â So far, her dreams have taken her to some pretty cool places. For the past three years, Snihur was the official singer for the Florida Panthers hockey team. Snihur became a regular at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, dazzling Panthers fans with the anthem at around 40 games per season. âI loved it, but this year, I decided that I was too busy to be doing all of that right now,â she said. âIt was just very demanding with school, especially since itâs all the way in Sunrise. I just canât sing at all 40 games with all the stuff I have going on.â On top of all of her
schoolwork, private gigs and participation in the Frost Chorale, UMâs premiere touring choir, Snihur is working on recording new music. This semester, she formed a band, comprised of all Frost music students, to accompany her vocals. Formally recognized by UM as a legitimate ensemble, the Ariel Rose Band is working on a new sound for the singer. âItâs sort of like an electropop style now,â she said. âItâs very dance-y with a disco vibe.â Snihur attributes her collaboration with her boyfriend-turned-band mate, Russell Pollack, to the creation of her new, funky sound. âI never thought that I would go with that style,â she said. âIt just happened.â Artists always warn against mixing love and work, but for Snihur and Pollack, it just works. âWe didnât think when we first started dating that we would ever work together, but after about six months, we realized that we did work really well together.â For a woman whoâs constantly on-the-go, meshing her personal and professional lives is one of the ways she can cope with such a busy schedule. Snihur attributes her finely-tuned time management skills to getting everything done. âI donât sleep,â she joked. âEvery hour of every day is planned. I know exactly what Iâm doing ... I think thatâs the most important thing, because otherwise it can become overwhelming.â Believe it or not, Snihur makes sure she has ample time to give back to the community. A regular performer for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Special Olympics, she said she loves seeing the impact she has on the audience. âEveryone seems to be affected in some way and that makes it all worthwhile for me,â she said. While itâs hard for some people to get through a class presentation without breaking into a nervous sweat, Snihur feels most at home in front of a large crowd. Having performed in front of thousands of Miami Heat and Dolphins fans, at a U.S. Soccer game and even at the Latin Grammys Street Party in New York City, Snihur is no stranger to being the center of attention. âThe more people, the better,â she said. âI feel like I belong on stage with people looking at me.â Snihur is on her way to performing on her of Macyâs Thanksgiving Day Parade float. She just filmed a new music video and plans to release it, along with some new music, by the end of the year.
ARIEL SNIHUR
The arts & culture issue DISTRACTION 67