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Hey all! My name is Miriam Mathan and I am a senior in high school in Seattle, WA. I was recently accepted to the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival: High School Singer Program; a residential month-long vocal intensive course hosted by some of the most accomplished vocal professors from all over the country. After an audition with NYU Steinhard School of Music, the associate director of vocal performance reached out encouraging me to apply to HPAF and I feel so honored to have been accepted! This program is selective and is an incredible opportunity to get a peek into the professional world of classical music and develop myself as a performer.
This is especially exciting considering what the past few years have been like. For the past 22 months of my life, I have been in recovery from severe bulimia and other chronic mental health concerns. I was hospitalized and in residential treatment for much of the last 2 years which forced me to stop my whole life, dreams, passions, and goals; putting them on hold to get the help I needed. It was heartbreaking to watch my peers enjoy their summer and junior year: going to football games and parties while I was stuck in inpatient. It felt impossible to imagine a life beyond that time. None of this is supposed to be a sob story, but simply to emphasize just how very big of a deal it is to me to be who I am today. I have grown so much and strive to live each day wholeheartedly after putting up the fight for my life. I am so proud to say I graduated from treatment in January and I am almost one year clean!
Music has been one of my biggest inspirations and has helped me hugely in healing and finding love for myself and confidence in my body. I have always dreamed of studying music professionally. I plan on continuing my education at the University of Washington this fall. Due to my personal life, am responsible for funding my musical education and the expenses that come with it (and it isn’t always cheap!).
Recently, I won 1st place at the WMEA Solo and Ensemble Competition in the Mezzo-Soprano category. I am also recognized as a National Qualifier and State Honoree in solo and duet musical theater after competing at the International Thespian Society Thesby's Competition. I have been able to return to theater, playing the role of Hermes in Hadestown: Teen Edition at my high school! I also sing in 2 advanced choirs. I want to continue to advance in something So fulfilling and I believe this can be jumpstarted by attending HPAF over the summer! The Hawaiian Performing Arts Festival is offering me an incredibly generous scholarship but I still need support covering the rest of the costs! The goal is $6,000 (airfare, tuition, meal plan, housing, and GoFundMe transaction fee!) Anything helps! Thanks for being a part of my journey!
If you’d like to hear me sing, here’s a link to my portfolio: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaQJuuxGNLdqa-fhX7rR7S78HCg-IUo-t&si=6uAWXliSkdx8x3Sr"
Here is a link to info about HPAF: