Beginning her violin journey at the age of 10 and delving into her singing career two years later, senior Sloane O’Neill continues to pursue both passions with intense dedication. She finds comfort and joy in music, cherishing the moments shared with friends and adding new memories for her future.
O’Neill has been surrounded by music for a while through her experiences playing the violin for eight years and singing for seven years. With opportunities to spend time with her friends in the orchestra room, O’Neill cherishes the moments she has played music with others in addition to her admiration for the hobby.
“I don’t necessarily play the violin because it’s my favorite thing to do, I play because I like being in an orchestra with all my friends,” O’Neill said. “A lot of my favorite memories from school have been with the people in orchestra.”
Having a lot of practice with violin and singing over the years, O’Neill finds herself increasingly drawn towards the potential of her voice over playing the violin.
“For violin, I took lessons for my first few years of playing, they taught me basic techniques so our music is easier to play [in class],” O’Neill said. “I still take voice lessons. The voice is a super complicated instrument that takes a lot to navigate. I learn things like breath control, and vowel placement.”
Continuing to study her voice and what she is capable of, O’Neill shares why her passion for singing has yet to expire.
“I like to sing because it’s like putting together a puzzle, since I can’t physically see what I’m doing, a lot goes into figuring out what works,” O’Neill said. “I love the process and the choir here at North is an amazing community to be a part of.”
As she wraps up her final semester, O’Neill has decided to continue her love of vocal performance after graduation. O’Neill hopes to continue singing in the future, aspiring to become a professional singer.
“I’m majoring in voice performance in college and I want to sing professionally, however I don’t think I’ll continue with the violin,” O’Neill said.
