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Student Spotlight: Audrey H.
If you’ve been to some of our recitals, you may have run across our amazing vocal student and multi-instrumentalist, Audrey. Audrey sings, as well as plays piano, guitar, and viola. She’s a stunning pop singer, but is just as comfortable starring in musicals–including playing Dorothy in The Wiz. A fun fact about Audrey is that if she doesn’t go into the music industry, she hopes to be a scientist. Be sure to check her out at Audrey Huynh or at her Instagram, @audrey_huynh_official.
In the meantime, enjoy her beautiful cover of “The Cut That Always Bleeds.”
Q&A with Audrey H.
AH: I really like anything involved with science. Ever since I was a little kid, I was obsessed with chemistry, geology, and astronomy. As I’ve grown older, I realized how much more I appreciate and love the sciences, and if a career in music doesn’t work out, I would for sure be a scientist. I have also been in the acting industry for eight years now. I love portraying different characters and changing my voice to fit certain characters. I also love to read and write, and I find that writing is a great way to express my feelings, either through songs, poems, or stories.
MM: How did you get started with music, and how long have you been singing, playing piano, and playing guitar? Any other instruments I’m missing?
AH: I began my music journey in fourth grade when I started to play the viola for the school orchestra. Everyone I knew was like “What is a viola? You should play the violin instead,” but I kept insisting that the viola was what I wanted to play and grew to love the sound. I kept playing through elementary school, and eventually got accepted into the IUSD Honors Orchestra program and performed at the Segerstrom Concert Hall in sixth grade. I think that was the moment when I realized I loved to perform. I tried out and got into the musical theatre program at my middle school, and my love for performing only grew. I did my first musical in seventh grade and my second in eighth grade where I got cast as Dorothy in the Wiz. I feel like that was such an amazing experience for me because I got to see how different it was being an ensemble member versus the lead. I also started getting guitar lessons from my grandpa and taught myself how to play piano around that same time.
MM: What makes you keep up your practice, and what are your goals?
AH: Ever since I was little, I loved singing and performing. I used to put on shows for my family in my living room and sing karaoke songs from my favorite movies and shows. My love for music has only grown as I’ve gotten older. In my room, I literally have a corner that has all of my music supplies like my keyboard, my guitars, my microphones, and everything else I need. I feel like music is such a great way to inspire people, and over time I’ve made that my goal. I want to tell stories and communicate through music, and I genuinely want to inspire people with my words and my songs.
MM: Who are some of your musical idols, and why?
AH: Some of my idols are my choir teacher, Ariel May, because she has taught me so many life lessons and has taught me that you don’t always have to be a soloist to communicate stories with music. I’ve worked with Ben at Molly’s Music for about two years now, and he is definitely somebody that I look up to because he has taught me so much in the few years that I have been his student. My parents and my family are the biggest people I look up to. They may not be my musical idols, but I just want to recognize them for giving me constant support and for helping me pursue my dreams.
MM: I’ve noticed you do a wide variety of music, from accompanying yourself on pop and singer-songwriter stuff to starring in musicals? Do you have a favorite type of music to perform?
AH: Really, I love singing every kind of music from choir songs in Latin to jazz songs from a musical. Though, I would have to say that pop songs are my favorite because I can do so much with the accompaniment and the basic melodies of the songs. I love taking popular songs that are super upbeat and turning it into a nice acoustic cover. I really like playing my own music while I sing because I can turn it into the perfect “track.” All of the karaoke tracks that I look up are wrong for me in some way, but accompanying myself is a guarantee that the track will fit me.
MM: Can you share about a technique, skill, or song you struggled with, and how you are overcoming or have overcome it?
AH: When I first started getting music lessons, I struggled with placement the most. I was singing mostly in my nose, and it was affecting the overall tone of the songs I was singing. The people who have helped me with it, Ben and Mrs. May, both gave me different ways to overcome it. I took their instruction and applied it, and I eventually grew to sing with better placement.
MM: You’re so incredible! Are you interested in pursuing music or performing as a career?
AH: Yes! I would love to pursue music as a career.
MM: Do you have any social media sites, like YouTube or Instagram, you’d like to share?
AH: I do! I have a YouTube channel (Audrey Huynh) that I post on sometimes, but my main platform is my Instagram which is @audrey_huynh_official.
