Seniors step into the spotlight BY LUCIA KITCHING Staff Reporter
in musicals for ten-plus years, including three with Sequoia Drama, plans to attend the University of Southern California (USC) with a minor in performing arts. As well as taking classes in the performing arts department, Maire plans to major in political science. “I love [musical theater] a lot, but it’s not the most reliable career. So that would be the only reason why I’d kind of go in a different direction. But I want to definitely continue stuff with music outside, even if it’s in a little way,” Maire said. Joshua Thacker, active in the choir and theater programs with having written and musically directed the musical “Right to Rule,” plans to complete the musical theater program at Chico State. “It’s definitely not going to be the most Photo by Lucia Kitching lucrative job but it’s my passion. It’s what I enjoy doing,” Thacker said. Students who have participated in music Senior Violeta Sanchez, hopes to continue programs outside or through Sequoia have composition and piano playing at school. plans of continuing their music after high Music can be a massively important part of school. someone’s life. It is also an emotional escape, one of the main reasons so many choose to keep it a part of their life after high school. “It’s just a way I can escape from reality,” Sanchez said. “I like to think of it as like halfway between a fantasy “Sometimes [success] is world and a real world, and it’s kind having the drive and focus of like them combining together. that gets you up and wanting Music allows me to express myself to continue to improve...” in ways that words cannot.” “I think probably the two biggest - Othello Jefferson things people think about is money and stability, in terms of just making sure that you can survive if you’re Music teachers Jane Woodman and doing only music, and combined with that is Othello Jefferson both note students that the competition,” Woodman said. “In terms of have pursued music in several different ways, so many people vying for the big break, the such as conducting, studying at a conservatory, discovery, the consistent jobs that are going joining musical groups or songwriting. to pay enough to not only just get your one Senior Kayla Maire, who has participated little moment of fame but the job that can
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actually stay.” Since the process of obtaining a job in this career is challenging, Woodman offers advice to students, whether they plan on achieving this goal in or outside of college. Her two main tips are to be proactive about learning music by honing your skills both technical and musicality-wise, and being a responsible person and good team member. Although the competitiveness of the career is overwhelming, both teachers emphasize that if you put enough drive and dedication into your work, it is possible to achieve your goals. “To me, success is not always having the most amount of talent. And it’s something that I’ve had to kind of just see and observe and learn,” Jefferson said. “Sometimes it’s having the drive and focus that gets you up and wanting to continue to audition, to continue to improve, to continue to stretch yourself.”
Violeta Sanchez Villanueva Cañada College and freelance composing
Kayla Maire USC with a minor in performing arts
Joshua Thacker Chico State musical theater program