Where did you grow up, and where did you go to grammar school?

I grew up in San Francisco and went to Adda Clevenger from kindergarten through 8th grade. It was a performing arts school. 

Take me back to a time at Sacred Heart Cathedral. What are some memories that stand out?

My favorite memories from SHC were all in the choir room. I'll never forget our choir teacher and Director of Music, Mr. Christian Bohm, and what a fun and safe space he held for us. I was in multiple choirs and had friends from every grade because of it. I would literally cry when the choir year was over every single year, not wanting to wait until the following year to start rehearsals again. 

Who were some teachers that impacted your development as a student?

Brother David was another favorite teacher of mine! I was never good at science, but he made it fun. I ended up winning a class award in his biology class! That was a big deal for me. I'll never forget how in frosh algebra, Mr. Pete Gresh would finish a math problem on the board, point to me, and I'd sing, "And that's about as far as we can go!" from the musical Oklahoma. He would always queue me up for different musical song references—I loved it!

Could you share your journey from taking acting classes at SHC to pursuing a career in acting? How did those classes influence or shape your decision to enter the profession?

I feel so lucky to have gone to SHC because of the incredible choir and theater programs. I performed in all the plays and musicals, which allowed me to expand my skills with challenging and leading roles. It solidified my yearning to pursue acting as a career! Mr. Bohm also helped me prepare for my Musical Theatre College Auditions. I ended up graduating from New York University with a musical theater degree!

What is your dream role? What would you bring to the role?

Now that I'm in Los Angeles, I do mostly TV and film, but I just starred in a feature film, Goldmine. I played a pop star and sang three original songs in it. That was a dream come true! My next dream is to be cast in a musical television series. 

What is the most important lesson you learned at SHC that you use today?

Professionalism and kindness will get you far! 

What would you say to current SHC students who are embarking on the next step of their lives and profession?

Work hard and meet as many people as you can in your field. Use your contacts to help you, and help others as well. Building a community is so important, and that can be separate from your career, part of it or a bit of both!