Sofia Gonzalez
For Alverno Heights Academy student Sofia Gonzalez ‘17, the summer before senior year seemed to be a normal one filled with trips, camp, and her regular vocal lessons that is until she received a text message from her vocal instructor at The Colburn School of Music, Kay Montgomery, letting her know that she had been selected to perform with Michael Feinstein at Zipper Hall on Saturday, October 22. Feinstein will be performing as a part of a fundraiser for The Colburn School and the Great American Songbook Foundation.
“All of this happened by chance,” said Sofia Gonzalez ’17. “To be singing with Michael Feinstein is an incredible honor and I am so grateful to have been chosen. Here is a man who is working to keeping the art of musical theatre alive by providing students with scholarships and I was selected to be able to sing with him—it’s crazy, exciting, and amazing all at the same time!”
Little did Sofia know at the time, that her mother, Patricia, had been working with Ms. Montgomery and other individuals at The Colburn School to provide video clips of Sofia’s performances to Mr. Feinstein.
“It was funny because my mom didn’t really know how to upload things on to YouTube and so she was trying to do all of this behind my back without telling too many members of my family,” Sofia said. “My younger sister almost let it slip when she showed me the videos on YouTube but fortunately, everything happened the way it was meant to.”
When Sofia takes the stage alongside Michael Feinstein on Saturday, October 22 she will be singing “I Have Confidence” from The Sound of Music, a show that was ironically the first play Sofia ever auditioned for.
“I decided to try out for The Sound of Music at Holy Family in South Pasadena after I had transferred there,” she said. “I knew nothing about theatre and went into the audition and sang “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, which is a little out of place for The Sound of Music. I ended up being cast as a nun and sang the opening number, a Latin chant, a capella. I went from zero to standing in the spotlight at the opening of the show.”
Since then, Sofia has been committed to musical theatre and participated in numerous productions at Holy Family and St. Francis High School. At Alverno Heights Academy, Sofia is a member of the ComedySportz team and sings as a member of the Liturgical Mass Band. A few years ago, she started taking classes at The Colburn School where she met current mentor, Kay Montgomery.
“Kay just really inspires me,” Sofia said. “She is incredibly talented and knowledgeable and really commits herself wholeheartedly to her students. I certainly would not be able to do this and have these experiences without her.”
On top of everything else, Sofia is also busy preparing applications, performance videos, and resumes for college. With music and theatre as one of the center points of her life, Sofia has set her sights on schools that will allow her to continue her passion and provide her with the skills for growth. The University of Arizona, Baldwin Wallace, Carnegie Mellon, and Pace University are all at the top of her list and with strong performing arts departments they will certainly give Sofia the opportunity to grow.
“I’ve wanted to pursue musical theater as a career for a while,” she said, “and that dream has been reaffirmed for me this year. I want to have a well-rounded education that includes both strong academics and strong arts so I can become a more globally-minded individual,” she said. “The more I study, the more I can apply concepts from real life to the shows I’ll be in, making the whole experience more meaningful for me.”
Despite the excitement of everything, Sofia is still an Alverno Heights senior looking to enjoy the final months of high school with her friends and family. When asked what her go to karaoke choice would be for a party on the Alverno terrace, her reply was simple. “‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson because it’s simple and cool,” she said. “However, if it was Broadway karaoke, then it would definitely be “Don’t Rain on My Parade” by Barbra Streisand.”
“Sofia really is the picture of an Alverno Heights Academy girl—intelligent, talented, empowered and well-rounded and we could not be more proud of her,” said Julia V. Fanara, Head of School. “On behalf of everyone at Alverno, congratulations on this wonderful accomplishment and know that we are all cheering you on. We certainly have confidence the world will all be yours.”
About Alverno Heights Academy
Alverno Heights Academy is an all-girls, independent, progressive Catholic, college preparatory school dedicated to its mission of empowering each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be. Located on the property of the former Barlow Estate in Sierra Madre, California, Alverno Heights Academy was founded in 1960 by the Sisters of St. Francis who sought to create an environment in the San Gabriel Valley where young women could become informed and knowledgeable persons. Later renamed Alverno High School and sponsored by the Immaculate Heart Community, Alverno’s program—academic, spiritual, aesthetic, social, and physical—has been shaped by the staff, trustees, and students. As Alverno Heights Academy once again, the school remains committed to its mission by encouraging each of their young women to be who they imagine. For more information about Alverno Heights Academy, please visit www.alvernoheightsacademy.org.
