Emily Goben
News/Opinion Editor
Senior Ava Musgraves will attend Oklahoma City University next year to pursue a Bachelors of Music in Musical Theater.
Ever since being a part of Webster Groves High School’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” freshman year, Musgraves felt the drama department welcomed her with open arms. Musgraves said that production is one of her favorite high school memories.
“It taught me a lot about what high school was,” Musgraves said.
Other productions Musgraves has been involved in include, but are not limited to, “Chicago,”which she not only acted in, but also choreographed, “The Glass Menagerie” and, her favorite, “Urinetown.”
“I got to play opposite WGHS alum Annalise McCann, who I consider one of my closest friends and role models, and I found so much growth through getting to take on the role of ‘Hope’ in that production,” Musgraves explained.
Outside of the WGHS drama department, Musgraves has worked with theater companies like Gateway Center for Performing Arts and Center of Creative Arts.
“I would not be where I am today without having worked with Paul Pagano (Director at GCPA),” Musgraves wrote, “STL has so many amazing opportunities for youth who want to be involved in the arts.”
Theater is not the only thing Musgraves has been involved in during the past four years. She has been a part of the Echo staff for two years, serving as Feature Editor, and now Print Editor, is also involved in choir, and has spent the last two years in chamber choir.
Choral director Tim Havis has helped Musgraves grow musically.
“I appreciate him for helping me grow my classical voice as a musical theater singer and challenging me to be better, because even if I didn’t always love that it’s what I needed to get where I am today,” Musgraves reflected.
Musgraves said her sister, junior Lily Musgraves, has also been a big support during her time in high school.
“[Lily] has put up with my constant crazy schedule and belting the ‘Wicked’ cast album in the car, at 1 a.m., etc,” Musgraves said.
Musgraves said she also wants to thank her “biggest cheerleaders,, seniors Lexi Sylvan and Bella Ferrell for being “by my side through it all, coming to sit front row at all my shows. That means the world to me, and I admire them both so much for the incredibly strong women they both are.”
Musgraves’ advice to her freshman year self would be to not give up on her dreams.
“Storytelling is 1,000% my purpose and what I was put on this planet to do, so I would tell little freshman Ava to keep working as hard as she possibly can because I did it, after a crazy audition season I got into one of the top 10 programs for Musical Theater in the country, so don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do,” Musgraves wrote.
 |
Emily Goben – News/Opinion EditorThis will be Emily Goben’s first year on ECHO staff, but she made several contributions while taking journalism class her sophomore year. |
