Nothing elevates a performance like the magic of the orchestra, as orchestrator Macy Schmidt will tell you. With a single flourish, you can be swept away in a sea of sonic delight. “I’ve always been so moved by the way…
Nothing elevates a performance like the magic of the orchestra, as orchestrator Macy Schmidt will tell you. With a single flourish, you can be swept away in a sea of sonic delight. “I’ve always been so moved by the way…
Sam Hollander’s wayward adolescence was anchored by music. “As a kid, I was pretty lost,” he admitted. “I was a terrible student, bad athlete, etc., but I was a complete music freak. I collected records the way other kids hoarded…
Impact matters to disability advocate Tiffany Yu, regardless of scale. ”It can look so many different ways, whether it’s a one-to-one conversation with someone or coaching someone by reviewing their resume and doing mock interviews with them to creating a…
Jessie Paege launched her YouTube channel to begin building a community. She also sought a sense of belonging. “I started my platform because I had something called selective mutism and I was incredibly shy,” she recalls. “I saw another creator,…
Anna Shoemaker’s life revolves around music. She considers it her primary form of therapy. “For me, writing is the most important thing in my life. It’s really the only way I know how to clear my head,” she says. Her…
On a whim, Ignacia Soto-Aguilar decided to pause law school to pursue makeup design. “I think back to that time and I think decisions felt less permanent at that age,” she shrugs. “I don’t necessarily remember it feeling like some…
Elana Dunkelman was theatrical before she even knew what theater was. “I was 11 years old and I was super dramatic/expressive,” she says. “My mom signed me up for a youth musical theater group. I remember the moment I stepped…
Johnny Dephillipo has never been one to seek out romance. He believed in letting the opportunity find him. “I thought, ‘Don’t go searching so hard.’ I was really laid back and I honestly didn’t try too much at love,” he…
Having been born into a musical family, Michael Eddy’s destiny was in many ways inevitable. “I got drawn into music at a young age because my family is very musically inclined,” he says. Growing up, music has been such a…
It takes just a spark for an artist to change the world. Sharar Ali-Speakes finds the deepest nourishment in both treasuring herself and advocating for others. “Multiple things light your soul on fire as an artist,” she says. “The majority…
Drag goes beyond entertainment. For both performers and audiences, drag is a powerful therapy and glowing declaration of freedom. Tracey Erin Smith has witnessed this phenomenon firsthand. “I have seen the deep healing and medicinal power of bringing forth a…
Looking back, Michael Yewdell wishes he had his priorities in order. “Before 2017, I was prioritizing building my first business and making as much money as possible,” he admits. “I would say with hindsight that I should have focused more…