Junior Rachel Sanville is a finance major and an opera singer. But when she is not using her voice to make beautiful music, Rachel enjoys swimming, dancing, running and lifting weights.
When you think of classical singing, what words come to mind? Old, boring, daunting? What if I told you it that it’s fun, empowering, full of life, and daring. Crazy, right? But the truth is, this is what classical music means to me.
One of my biggest accomplishments in singing was producing and performing in two solo concerts. Plus, I took part in a 10-day Australian tour, where I had the opportunity to perform in the Sydney Opera House. I have also performed in New York City’s Carnegie Hall. Earlier this year, I performed in Starz of the Future, hosted in West Palm Beach, Fla., and I was nominated to perform at the 2013 Grammy Awards. Even though I didn’t win the top Grammy spot, I came in the top fifteen percent.
I have won many competitions and honors all across the U.S., including receiving four gold medals at the California Spring Talent Festival over spring break and being crowned the Double Grand Champion in my home county at the Santa Clara County Fair in California last summer.
So, how did I come to love classical music and achieve these accomplishments? Well, it all started when I was in fourth grade and my brother asked my mom if he could join our church’s choir. I was a shy kid, so singing in front of people was not my cup of tea. However, my mom made me go to daycare everyday after school. I hated daycare. The choir kids got to leave daycare for two hours every Thursday, and I was a smart kid. I knew I had to pretend to be in the choir, so I could get out of daycare for two hours.
I remember the first time listening to the choir practice. I realized I hadn’t ever paid attention to the music in church, because the sound was enthralling. I immediately went home and told my mom I wanted to join this choir.
During my third choir rehearsal, the choir director asked if anyone wanted to sing a solo at mass. I immediately raised my hand and, much to my surprise, he picked me. About five minutes later, I realized what I had gotten myself into. I hadn’t ever sung a solo, much less performed in front of a crowd. That was all about to change; I was going to perform in front of 400 people.
I remember shaking and wanting to throw up before my solo. However, when I finished, all my nerves disappeared. I remember everyone told me how proud they were. My community’s support gave me confidence and turned my future nerves into excitement.
After my first public performance, I was like an unstoppable racecar, wanting solo after solo. All I thought about was music. During silent reading time in school, I pretended to read, but I was really dreaming about being a superstar and performing as the leading lady.
As I went through middle school and high school, I was always known as the singer or choir girl. However, the older I got, the more I abandoned my dreams of being a singer and performer. During my freshman year of high school in California, I joined St. Francis’ High School’s chamber choir, which is its premiere choir. I served as the publicity board member, president, and soprano section leader.
In my senior year, I was the first recipient of the “Outstanding Musician Award,” which is the most prestigious music award at St. Francis. I also received the Department Music and Leadership in Music Awards. Yet, I was not the strongest vocalist. In fact, I was in the middle of the pack when it came to vocal talent. I won these awards, because of my passion, work ethic and dedication to music.
I left high school as a confident, strong girl. However, during my first week of college at the University of Portland —— far away from home — I lost all my spark and confidence. I no longer had a community that knew and appreciated my talents. The only music I had in my life was going to weekly voice lessons, which were the highlight of my week. In a way, I felt like music was breaking up with me. I felt like I had betrayed my passion. I knew I wasn’t the best, and I didn’t think I would ever be the best. I had to make sure I set myself up for a stable career, and music didn’t have a role in that. I was leading a “normal” college life. But I wasn’t use to “normal.”
I didn’t return to the University of Portland the following year. Instead, I had one of the most spontaneous years of my life. I decided to go to my local community college so I could take time to think about what I truly wanted to do with my life. This was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Over the summer, I took a swimming class at the community college and ended up being recruited for the school’s water polo and swimming teams. Long story short, my year started off as fun and freeing. I was back in my hometown, continuing to sing, and was surrounded by an amazing group of young women on my water polo team.
A week into the start of the semester, I got a call saying, “You’re cousin Bryanna has been killed in a car accident.” I felt my heart fall to the ground. She was my age and lived life to the fullest. Her death made me realize that anyone can lose his or her life at any moment.
Maybe it was the emotions of losing my cousin or maybe it was fate, but during my voice lesson a couple days later, I hit notes I was never able to hit before and felt myself singing with strength I didn’t know I had. I finally understood things my voice teacher had been telling me to improve for years. This voice lesson reminded me of why I started to sing. It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I gained confidence in my vocal abilities and was at peace with myself. My love with music was rekindled and stronger than I ever imagined. It was this moment that I realized I truly wanted a career in music.
The great thing about a voice is that you can take it everywhere you go. I have always been extremely close with my family. However, I live in California with my immediate family, while all my extended family lives between Jamaica and Florida. After my cousin died, I found myself traveling back and forth between California and Florida, just so I could spend time with my extended family. After doing this for 5 months, I realized I should transfer to a school in Florida. Five minutes into visiting Nova’s campus, I knew this was the school for me.
I am beyond excited that the Nova community embraces my talents and encourages me to follow my dreams. Some of my professors have encouraged me to show my YouTube videos during class, just so I can share my talents with my classmates. Students will stop me while walking to class and ask me when I am performing next or ask what new songs I am working on. I am grateful I can leave my mark on Nova among the multitude of other talents.
Everyday, I am learning and growing further in my music. I am excited to be studying at Manhattan School of Music’s Summer Program for six weeks this summer. I have decided to continue pursuing my degree in Finance. However, my heart is in music.
Currently I am working on signing with a management company and performing at every possible opportunity. Ultimately, my dream is to sign with a recording label and perform around the world.
