By Ellie Shalvarjian
Features Editor
From the Mira Costa stage to preparing to perform at a nationally viewed opera show in Miami, Costa junior Natalie Dreger has plans to travel and fulfill her dreams of being a singer or actress in any way possible.
Dreger has plans to perform as a solo artist singing one song at an unnamed opera show on undeclared dates during March in Miami, Florida. The opera show helps to produce proceeds for CFC, a rare and severe genetic disorder that severely affects the skin, hair, and heart called Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome. The whole program has been organized by St. Jude children’s medical research center.
“Ever since I was young I’ve been working with all of these programs, even while I was young, I was auditioning for broadway,” Dreger said. “Singing and acting has been my whole world.”
Dreger was set up with Judy Graham from New York, a vocal coach who has connections to The Met, by a family friend. This vocal coach helped to get her a spot in the show. Since then, Dreger has continued work with her original Los Angeles based coach, Judith Fredricks, as well as Graham to prepare her vocal ranges for the opera concert.
“I have been connected to people mainly through my past of television,” Dreger said. “Opera is definitely not something you’re born with, of course, some people can tell pitch better than others but it was for sure something I had to build on often.”
Dreger practices formally with a coach at least one time a week. Furthermore, she practices privately, on her own time, every day. She mainly focuses on expanding her pitch and range to prepare herself for whatever song she decides to sing for the show.
“Since your voice is a muscle I consistently have to work on it to help and access various things,” Dreger said. “Being an opera singer is a skillset, i’ve changed from even a year ago because all of the work that I’ve done to get her vocally.”
Dreger has also worked within the world of acting, including playing the lead in various theatre productions, acting on two tv show pilots __________ and _____________, scouting work through her IMDb, a website used to identify actors, and by continuously participating in vocal lessons. In addition, Dreger is an active member of Costa drama, drama club and is part of the Costa thespian society.
“Unfortunately, neither of the pilots succeeded in becoming full shows, but that’s often just how it goes,” Dreger said. “When I lived in Georgia about two and a half years ago I was mostly involved in acting and also commonly participated in various events like community theatre productions.”
Dreger is currently considering two paths for her future in acting and singing. One of her options is to follow a traditional route by going through college and formally studying singing. However, a recording company in Nashville have been actively scouting her, so, she could decide to follow a less traditional route and go directly into recording. As of right now, she is unsure of her plans.
“I have been working with both of my vocal coaches and it’s so exciting to see all the things I can do with my life,” Dreger said. “As of now, it’s mostly choosing what style of music I hope to pursue and how I want to go about that.”
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