Away from the spotlight, freshman Irene Stanly appears shy and reserved.
That is until she starts to sing, turning every note into a show-stopping moment.
Stanly joined choir in sixth grade, but she was initially hesitant due to her prior experiences with stage fright.
“Stage fright was the toughest challenge I had ever faced,” Stanly said.
Coppell Middle School East vocal lesson teacher Randi Bivens highlights this journey, emphasizing the progress Stanly achieved since joining the program.
“Irene was at first very shy, but the growth I saw in her really brought her out of her shell,” Bivens said.
Through persistent dedication and rigorous practice, Stanly discovered her stage fright began to melt away, allowing her voice to shine. A notable improvement occurred when Stanly began taking private lessons during eighth grade.
“Ever since I got into auditions and started getting in, I was like, ‘Oh I am actually better than I thought I was,’” Stanly said.
This newfound confidence propelled her move from JV to varsity choir.
(Hannah Vipin)
Building on her success, Stanly prepared for her subsequent audition for the Texas Music Educators Association district competition. While waiting outside the audition room, Stanly found herself confronting her fear of stage fright and nervousness simultaneously.
“The person standing next to the door told me if I wanted a minute to breathe I could, and all I had to do was take a few deep breaths, think about the work I put into this and walk in,” Stanly said.
Two days after her audition, she received an email revealing the results.
“When I saw the words ‘first chair’ I was freaking out,” Stanly said.
Stanly’s perseverance and diligent work culminated in her achievement of first chair alto, securing her position as a district qualifier. Her journey underscores the impact of effort, which Stanly identifies as a fundamental to success.
“If you actually want to be good at something you have to put hard work and effort into it because you will never reach higher than you are,” Stanly said.
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