The alarm reads 6:30 a.m., time to wake up and go to school, but one WJ student has already been awake for over an hour practicing her fiddle.
“Playing Irish music in the morning helps ground me for my day,” junior Alice Bradley said. “I feel really off when I don’t play in the morning.”
Bradley has been playing music ever since her first violin lesson at age six. Since then, she has learned to play both alto and tenor saxophone, celtic harp, chorus and the tin whistle.
“I play violin in the symphonic orchestra, tenor saxophone in the jazz ensemble, alto saxophone in the wind ensemble and I sing alto/tenor in Madrigals. I am captain of the Pep Band, a member of the soprano/alto acapella group, Vanilla and played violin in the pit orchestra last year during Les Mis,” Bradley said.
Being in four music classes means that most of Bradley’s school time is spent in the music suite, but class is not the only time she is there. During nearly every lunch period, you can find Bradley in the practice rooms working on her craft. At home, she often gets up extra early to get a practice session in before school even starts.
Bradley has had lots of mentorship from WJ music teachers, professional musicians, fellow student musicians and other music-related teachers.
“All the doors are going to continue to open for her because she is so willing to try and work hard,” music teacher Kelly Butler said.
One of Bradley’s biggest focuses is the fiddle aspect of Irish music. Family connections to Ireland and traditional Irish music have led her in the direction of this particular genre of music. Bradley has taken part in performances at the Irish Embassy, folk festivals, Irish television shows and Saint Patrick’s Day events. These festivals and events deepen her connection with Irish music and the art of music as a whole.
“One of my favorite music experiences was going to the Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, North Carolina the summer before sophomore year,” Bradley said. “It was a week-long music camp with classes in the morning, concerts in the evening, jams at night and pizza at all hours of the day.”
Bradley plans to continue her music education in college and wants to eventually work in the field of music and arts.
“The biggest challenge for her will be taking the first step, because once anybody sees her they are going to immediately pick up on what makes her such a talented musician,” music teacher Michael Helgerman said.
