By Kaili Chiang
Chloe Mee, currently a grade 11 student, is a passionate participant in Collingwood’s performing arts. She began at Collingwood in Grade 2, and within the school community, her amazing talents have been displayed throughout her years here. Chloe has been involved in both choir and band at school, from her wonderful performance in the grade 7 production of Beauty and the Beast, to her advanced musical performances as part of the Morven band.
Chloe first picked up the clarinet in grade 4, and while she admits that it didn’t sound good at first, she knew from the very beginning that this was a skill she wanted to learn and develop in years to come. Much of Chloe’s drive and inspiration comes from her dad, who played a significant role in discovering her love for music. For 15 years, her dad was a part of the Royal Marines in England, and he also shares Chloe’s musical talent. He plays the clarinet, saxophone and bass and it was his love for music that has been her greatest inspiration in the arts. She emphasizes that he never forced music onto her, but rather sparked her interest at a young age through his “unique, beautiful sound”.
At first, Chloe found that the most important part of playing the clarinet was getting the notes and rhythms right, as well as paying attention to dynamics. However, over the past few years, she has been trying to add more meaning to her playing, focusing further on phrasing and on expressing herself. She has realized that music is not simply “black and white”, and that it’s important to read past the notes. For people that are new to music, Chloe reccomends that you should practice and try not to compare yourself to others. Pushing through challenges and discovering your personal musical interests will help you grow as an artist individually. She believes that people will always make mistakes, but it’s important to learn from those in order to improve.
To Chloe, music is an outlet of expression, and a form of relaxation from everyday stresses. Music has always been a way of connecting to her own emotions and she admires the way it unifies people. With both band and choir, Chloe enjoys listening to how her part fits in with everybody else’s, blending into one cohesive, beautiful sound. She sometimes even finds herself losing concentration, listening to others and the music as it builds to a climax and flows around her. Music has been a way for Chloe to learn about herself and discover her passions and skills in life.
In school, Chloe is not only actively involved in band, but also especially enjoys English and biology. Her passion for English extends outside of school as well; she often spends her free time reading or writing, and she finds connections between English and music through the lyrical elements of choral music. In her future beyond Collingwood, Chloe is interested in pursuing health sciences or English. Her journey in the performing arts is something that will help her later on through strengthened teamwork skills. Chloe hopes that someday she will return to music, even years and years in her future after Collingwood.
Chloe Mee, currently a grade 11 student, is a passionate participant in Collingwood’s performing arts. She began at Collingwood in Grade 2, and within the school community, her amazing talents have been displayed throughout her years here. Chloe has been involved in both choir and band at school, from her wonderful performance in the grade 7 production of Beauty and the Beast, to her advanced musical performances as part of the Morven band.
Chloe first picked up the clarinet in grade 4, and while she admits that it didn’t sound good at first, she knew from the very beginning that this was a skill she wanted to learn and develop in years to come. Much of Chloe’s drive and inspiration comes from her dad, who played a significant role in discovering her love for music. For 15 years, her dad was a part of the Royal Marines in England, and he also shares Chloe’s musical talent. He plays the clarinet, saxophone and bass and it was his love for music that has been her greatest inspiration in the arts. She emphasizes that he never forced music onto her, but rather sparked her interest at a young age through his “unique, beautiful sound”.
At first, Chloe found that the most important part of playing the clarinet was getting the notes and rhythms right, as well as paying attention to dynamics. However, over the past few years, she has been trying to add more meaning to her playing, focusing further on phrasing and on expressing herself. She has realized that music is not simply “black and white”, and that it’s important to read past the notes. For people that are new to music, Chloe reccomends that you should practice and try not to compare yourself to others. Pushing through challenges and discovering your personal musical interests will help you grow as an artist individually. She believes that people will always make mistakes, but it’s important to learn from those in order to improve.
To Chloe, music is an outlet of expression, and a form of relaxation from everyday stresses. Music has always been a way of connecting to her own emotions and she admires the way it unifies people. With both band and choir, Chloe enjoys listening to how her part fits in with everybody else’s, blending into one cohesive, beautiful sound. She sometimes even finds herself losing concentration, listening to others and the music as it builds to a climax and flows around her. Music has been a way for Chloe to learn about herself and discover her passions and skills in life.
In school, Chloe is not only actively involved in band, but also especially enjoys English and biology. Her passion for English extends outside of school as well; she often spends her free time reading or writing, and she finds connections between English and music through the lyrical elements of choral music. In her future beyond Collingwood, Chloe is interested in pursuing health sciences or English. Her journey in the performing arts is something that will help her later on through strengthened teamwork skills. Chloe hopes that someday she will return to music, even years and years in her future after Collingwood.
