When Cherry Hill Township’s Arts Board approached Cherry Hill High School East music teacher Laurie Lausi about having students sing with performers from the Academy of Vocal Arts, she decided to look toward students who were not only dedicated to their craft, but would look toward music as a career.
“When the arts council approached me about this project, they asked about female singers who were pursuing music in the future,” Lausi said.
Cherry Hill East junior Abigayle Stoetzer and senior Patricia Irwin were exactly what the arts board was looking for.
The duo will perform with the Academy of Vocal Arts in an ensemble concert at the Croft Farm Arts Center on Oct. 26. The concert is the final event in the township’s Fall Into the Arts series and the opening show for the 2014–15 ensemble series.
Being chosen to sing in the concert was a huge deal for both Stoetzer and Irwin. They have sung on a variety of stages before, from school musicals to the all-South Jersey choir. However, this is the first opportunity students have had to perform with Academy of Vocal Arts singers in a township show.
“I just became so excited because it’s such a neat opportunity to sing with such accomplished vocalists,” Irwin said.
Stoetzer said she was recognized after she was put on a flyer advertising the concert.
“I actually was in ShopRite and people actually said ‘You’re on the flyer,’” she said. “It’s just an amazing opportunity.”
Both Stoetzer and Irwin’s singing careers started prior to high school. Stoetzer jumped into singing when she auditioned for the all-Cherry Hill choir in fifth grade. For the past six years, she has been taking voice lessons with Kayle Brecher at the Conservatory of Music.
“I’ve been taking lessons with her for six years,” Stoetzer said. “Ever since I started voice lessons, I’ve loved singing.”
Irwin can remember singing as early as 3-years-old in church. It wasn’t until middle school when she began working with a coach.
“I started studying with a teacher in seventh grade,” she said. “I tried to take advantage of every choir opportunity I could. When I was older, I started performing in musicals.”
Stoetzer and Irwin have been accomplished performers in their high school careers. They are both members of the all-South Jersey and all-state choirs.
Stoetzer also performed with the Haddonfield Plays and Players. In 2012, she made her mark at the National American Miss Pageant, finishing third in the talent competition.
This past summer, Irwin had the chance to study internationally at The Kennedy Center’s Washington National Opera Institute. She has also performed in plays, taking part in Cherry Hill East musicals “Aida,” “Pippin,” “The Mikado” and “Peter Pan.”
This is not the first time students have interacted with the AVA. Lausi said Cherry Hill East has had a relationship with the Academy of Vocal Arts for a number of years. Its performers act as mentors to the students in a variety of ways.
“We have partnered with AVA,” Lausi said. “We’ve had Opera Night. We always have a performer from AVA to talk to our singers.”
Stoetzer and Irwin hope the experience from the concert will give them a boost as they look beyond their high school careers. Both of them love singing and have no plans to stop anytime soon.
“I’m looking at a bunch of schools and conservatories in the area,” Stoetzer said. “I want to be singing my entire life, and I couldn’t think of anything else better to do.”
“I can’t tell you what repertoire I’ll be singing the rest of my life, but I know I’m going to be signing for the rest of my life,” Irwin said.
