Spotlight on the Arts: Singing Through the Day

 

Hailey Stone starts her day like many of us do – singing in the shower.

But that’s only the beginning for the Dunbar High senior. She literally sings her way through the day.

Her “A Days” at Dunbar start with a musical theater class, followed by algebra and calculus, speech and study hall.

On “B Days,” she begins with Girls Choir, works as an aid in the freshman choir class, followed by a concert choir class and ending with English. That’s a lot of singing!

And that’s only the school day. After school on Mondays, she has SWAG (Singers With A Goal) practice; Tuesdays, she sings with the Lexington Singers; Wednesdays, she has voice and piano lessons with Mary Joe Nelson of the UK Opera Theatre; Thursdays, it’s more SWAG;

Fridays are usually reserved for choir practice followed by a weekend of different performances.

Hailey has performed at many prestigious venues, including with the Boston Pops at Rupp Arena, at the World Equestrian Games at the Kentucky Horse Park, with the Lexington Singers and with the UK Opera Theatre’s Grand Night for Singing.

Her voice has taken her to Atlanta, Chicago, West Virginia and to Western Kentucky University for competitions.

Whew, that’s a busy calendar. You’d think a schedule like that would hamper Hailey’s academic achievements, but she has maintained a 4.76 weighted GPA and scored a 32 on her ACT.

Hailey started singing in the fifth grade when she joined the Clays Mill choir.

“It touched something in me. It spoke to me,” she said about singing.

Apparently, it spoke to the choir director too, who pulled aside Hailey’s parents, Mindy and Dan Stone, and told them that Hailey’s voice was something special.

Mindy is a believer every time she hears her daughter perform. “She comes to life. It bring me to tears when she sings, her voice is so beautiful,” Mindy said.

Dan agrees, saying, “She sounds like she belongs in a Broadway show.”

Clearly, Hailey has found her calling. “It’s like nothing else,” Hailey said. “I’m myself, but I’m not exactly. It’s almost like I’m the song. Whatever emotion I’m singing, I feel that.”

Vocal competition judges also agree as Hailey has won honors at the Southeast Regional competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, winning second place.

Other honors include Governor’s School for the Arts 2012, All State Honors Choir 2013, Schmidt Vocal Competition Finalist 2012, and five Distinguished State Solo rankings with KMEA.

Hailey loves singing, whether it’s her church choir, the school choir or a large competition.

After her NATS performance she heard a huge cheer from the audience.

Said Hailey: “It made me happy to know that I could bring joy to so many people in that room.”

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