Congratulations to ELA HOWARD [Centreville HS], who was announced our second recipient of the Overtures Scholarship.
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Q: How did you feel when you were announced as the winner for the Overtures Scholarship?
A: I was very shocked when my name was announced as the winner. All of the other performers, whom are my close friends, are super talented, so I didn’t think I had much of a chance at winning. I just wanted to support my friends and have a good time. It was such an honor to win, and I owe it all to Mr. D and everyone at the academy. When my name was announced everyone was so happy for me, they all gave me a group hug. I’m so grateful for everyone’s support. There was not a hint of jealousy in that room, which is very rare in this industry. Q: What are you most looking forward to for the Overtures Program and what do you hope to get out of it? A: I’m looking forward to growing as a performer and meeting people I can learn from. I’ve never worked with an equity house before, so this is a very important step for my career. There’s also a wide age range in the Overtures program, meaning some of the actors I’ll be working with have been doing professional jobs for years. I’m hoping to learn about their experiences to prepare for my future. Q: Where are you attending school next year? How did you make your decision? A: Next year I will be attending CCPA at Roosevelt University. My major will be Acting but I’m hoping to switch to Musical Theatre. I learned about this school last year from the college commitment board in Mr. D’s classroom. I learned more about the program and when I visited, I just fell in love with the school. They have a very strong foundation on social justice in their curriculum which is very important to me. |
Congratulations to EVAN HOLT [Hayfield HS], who was announced the first-ever recipient of the Overtures Scholarship.
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Q: How did you feel when you were announced as the winner for the Overtures Scholarship?
A: It was pretty crazy! It was awesome because it was not something I expected, and it was a huge personal achievement for me. Q: You are currently enrolled in the Signature Conservatory. Can you tell us about your experience? A: It is essentially an acting class that meets once a week. It is a great program where the director’s, Matt & David, design the lessons for what the students are specifically looking for help with. They formulate the lessons around our needs. This year, we used short stories to make our own plays. We had to create the script using only the words included in the short story. Q: What are you most looking forward to for the Overtures Program and what do you hope to get out of it? A: Ever since I heard about it, I thought it was amazing because of the talent of your peers. The people I’ll be working alongside are amazing artists. You are literally surrounded by the most hardworking people around – that includes students and faculty. I’ll be working through some difficult material and I look forward to the challenge. Q: Where are attending school next year? How did you make your decision? A: I’m attending Missouri State University’s BFA Musical Theatre program. The people there are so supportive and super kind. The head of the program, Robert Westenberg, is inspiring. During my own college research process, I would listen to his podcasts and read blogs. I know that I can trust him when I hear his voice. I feel like I’m in good hands. |