| Courtney
Baldwin |   |
 Courtney
Baldwin made her public debut with the Wellesley Village Church Cherub Choir in
2000 at the age of five. Since those early cherubic days, her soaring soprano
voice has matured into a powerful instrument, which is why WHS Choral Director
Kevin McDonald nominated Courtney for a POPS Performing Arts Profile. The
voice is so delicate and fragile, students rarely begin formal training until
8th or 9th grade. Courtney has studied with Hardy music teacher Magen Slesinger
the past five years. At WHS, she's been in Concert Choir, Song Sisters, Keynote
Singers and the student-run group Renegade. She sang in the popular musicals Anything
Goes, CHICAGO, and Hairspray. Courtney
is also a Senior Choral Intensive Student for Dr. McDonald, helping with rehearsals,
and working with younger students. "She has the ability to single-handedly
affect others' performance in a positive way by leading with her voice, musicianship,
and professionalism. Courtney is a fine model for our younger singers." Freshman
year, Courtney was selected for the Massachusetts Junior District Choir. Sophomore
and junior year, she made it through three rounds of auditions, and was selected
for the prestigious Massachusetts All-State Choir, which performs at Symphony
Hall. "Making All-States two years in a row is a pretty cool achievement,"
she mentions modestly. Courtney
also studies cello (11 years), piano (9 years), and guitar (2 years). Because
of her busy schedule, piano is on the back burner for now, and her weekly guitar
lesson is a chance to relax. She still spends most Saturdays in Cambridge as an
active member of the Longy Youth Chamber Orchestra. Not
all of Courtney's performances are at Longy or Symphony Hall. In the Dominican
Republic on a church service trip in 2010, Courtney encountered a group of young
Haitian girls displaced by the 2010 earthquake. "The girls seemed isolated.
Since I speak French, I was able to communicate with them. I thought we'd all
know the same songs and sing them. Instead, they taught me their songs, and I
taught them a couple I know. It was a really nice musical moment." Davidson
College snapped up Courtney early decision in December, so she's heading to Charlotte,
North Carolina in the fall. There, she hopes to sing in a choir and an Acapella
group, as well as continue with her guitar. Since this cherub's grown up to sing
like an angel, she'll no doubt receive a warm welcome in Davidson's musical community.
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Cindy Buser Last modified 2/29/12 | 