Five years from now, when she’s nationally known, I’ll be able to say “I knew her when.”

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending an outstanding vocal recital by Weston junior Kayla Silverman, one of my former geometry students. For three years I have admired Kayla’s growing talent as a vocalist in pop music and musicals (see the clip below), but I had no idea that she also has an amazing operatic voice and that she has grown so much as an artist!

Yesterday’s recital was part of Kayla’s preparation for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music diploma. (She has already passed the voice certificate “with distinction,” the highest level.) The daunting description of just a portion of what she will have to do for the diploma is as follows:

Singing 11 different operatic songs in 4 languages — English, French, German, and Italian — from the various periods of music including Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern.

She will also have to show that she knows a whole lot about music history.

Yesterday’s recital consisted of pieces by Scarlatti, Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Fauré, Berlioz, Puccini, and Walton. (Note the order.) I was so impressed by Kayla’s abilities and poise not only in English but also in the other three languages mentioned above. (Fortunately no Czech, Spanish, or Russian was involved — though they could have been — as I wouldn’t have been able to follow!)

Also, let me give a shout-out to Kayla’s vocal coach Bronwen Upton and her accompanist Minkyung Oh.

So, if and when you get a chance to hear Kayla sing, don’t miss it!

Categories: Life, Teaching & Learning, Weston