Ashley Chen ‘23 has been passionate about singing and songwriting since childhood. She initially became interested in jazz back in middle school, when her band teacher encouraged her to audition for Jazz Band, and she has pursued music ever since. She has sang with the PHS Studio Band since her freshman year, and with the Cat’s Meow since her sophomore year. Chen has found her community through music, and finds that she has formed many close friendships with her fellow musicians. In her freshman and junior year, she won Outstanding Soloist for Studio Vocals. Studio Vocals also won first place at National Jazz Fest her sophomore and junior years, and they won second place at states her junior year as well. Finally, in her four years of singing in high school, she has won first in the vocal category of the National Jazz Festival. Overall, Ashley Chen has formed a tight-knit family and supportive community throughout her four years at PHS that she treasures and relies on.

*When did you first start singing and who first got you into singing?

I've always loved singing ever since I was really young, but I think I got into singing for jazz and for bands right now. In middle school, there were Jazz Band auditions, and Mr. Pollack told me to do it, and that's how I got into it. I used to think I'd be more of a musical theater person, but now I'm in Band because of that.

*What experience has shaped your passion for singing?

What got me to really love singing and want to be really good at it was when I was a freshman, I watched the seniors do vocals or Studio Band. I saw them win awards and be crazy, and that's what prompted me to want to be like them. I remember the Princeton Jazz Festival when I was in middle school and watching the seniors at that time perform was what made me realize: “I want to do this when I'm older.”

*What is the most important thing singing has taught you?

I think perseverance, because when I was a freshman I was definitely not at the level I am now. It took time, maturity, and practice, and the determination and perseverance it took to get me here is the biggest thing I’ve learned.

*Is there any artist or song you take inspiration from?

I really love this artist, Laufey, because she sings jazz and the standards that I do as well, but she also writes jazz pop and contemporary music for newer generations. I take inspiration from her because of the fact that she's introducing this old genre to the newer generation.

*What challenges have you faced or have had to overcome when it comes to singing?

In the beginning, it was stage fright and learning how to get over stage presence because that's something you can't really learn right off the bat; it took a lot of experience. I think the initial awkwardness, not knowing what to do, and that fear were tough to get over.

*What opportunities has singing opened up for you?

It’s opened up a lot of opportunities. For a summer band I sang in, I got to perform at major jazz festivals in Europe, which were really cool. I've also gotten to compete at the national Jazz Fest and go to states. There are a lot of things that I wouldn't have done if I hadn’t gone into band like the opportunity to win awards.

*How have the people in Band shaped your life?

They’ve definitely shaped my life a lot. You get so much support from people, especially for activities like singing and music, which not all my friends are involved in. So having friends who are in it, too, we all support each other as we get better. Sharing similar experiences at competitions, at big auditions and having people do something you all love together, I have trust in them, so it's a good community.

*What's the difference between your experience in Band and your experience in Cat's Meow right now?

For Cat's Meow, we have nine people, so we're very tight knit, and I love it because we're kind of a family. We do a lot of things together and we meet every week. It’s a smaller group and we have both underclassmen and seniors, so it's like we’re taking care of the underclassmen. Last year the seniors were taking care of me as the underclassmen in the group, so it’s a really tight family. Band is obviously bigger, definitely still a family, but more of a larger community. Cat’s is more of a family, and Band’s a community.

*How have the people in Cat’s Meow shaped your life?

Again, having support and having people be there for you. When things are a little rough or I’m stressed, I know that I can always rely on everyone in Cat’s. It's very supportive and very loving.

*Are there any challenges you've had to overcome as a group in the past?

I think the initial couple of rehearsals, where it's a new group of people, especially after getting used to the last group, is something that we had to overcome together. We don’t have that many challenges because we get straight into things pretty quickly, and we just become really close really quick, too.

*What's the best performance you put on?

I think the best performance I've done was for the National Jazz Fest. It was a recorder performance, and I won first for the vocal category. That was something that I was really proud of because I did that every year, and I've never gotten that high of a ranking, so I'd say that's my best performance. For Cat’s Meow, we do a lot of gigs, and I think every gig’s pretty good.

*What skills have you gained by singing that have helped you perform effectively?

Definitely a lot of confidence. It takes a lot of confidence to get out there because everyone's looking at you and you're just standing there, while everyone else in Band is sitting. Physically, I’ve gained breath support, and it's good for tennis too, which I play, so the physical endurance is good.

*What is the best part about singing?

The best part is putting together the final pieces for everyone. After rehearsing so hard, going on stage with the final piece and seeing what you worked really hard for and rehearsed for come to life is probably the best thing.

*Do you plan on pursuing singing in the future?

I'll definitely be singing in college and after that, but I'm not sure in what way. I’m not sure if I want to major in it, take a minor, or join a lot of clubs at school, but I definitely want to continue with it.

*Where do you see your singing career in ten years?

Probably singing with my friends at different places if we wanted to. I wouldn’t say a big venue because I don't know if I want to pursue that kind of career, but doing gigs with my friends and finding places to perform would be cool.