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Jul 06, 2016 Exploration Programs Conversation

Meet Olivia from New Jersey

Olivia from New Jersey talks about Hamilton and singing

Ally Marcino

After a dazzling performance that left the audience stunned at Explostock, Olivia talks about being a performer at Explo.


I love to sing. I’ve been singing and acting and that whole deal since I was around two or three. I just love to perform and I love Hamilton, so it made sense for me to sing a song from Hamilton last night at Explostock. I usually get really nervous but last night, weirdly enough, I wasn’t really nervous. Sometimes I get super super nervous before I perform where other times I won’t be. It all depends on what I’m doing, I guess. The performance last night was cool, though. Everyone was super welcoming and everyone was cheering. I liked being outside because I’d never performed outside or been in a situation like that before.

I took A Cappella for my workshop last week and I’m taking Musical Theater as one of my courses. We do breathing exercises and we shake ourselves out before we start singing in Musical Theater. A Cappella was really fun because I used to not be that great at learning harmonies and staying on my part, but because of the workshop, I’ve gotten better at that. It was really helpful. They are both really fun. It’s great just getting to do what you love and be around people who love what you love.

Explo is helping me perform in new ways. I’ve sung a cappella before, but not in an a cappella group. I thought that was a lot of fun. It’s helping me bond with a lot of people. I’m finding a lot of people like me. There’s even a Hamilton club here! Back at school, I know one girl who likes Hamilton and here it’s everywhere! I listen to the soundtrack every day. I take what I hear from the soundtrack and I make it my own. I can relate because of the way it’s written, the modern style of the music, and the diverse cast make everything so relatable.

Ally Marcino