By Grace Dietz
Copy Editor
Senior Maggie Cubillos was awarded Honorable Mention in the Voice/Popular category for the National YoungArts Foundation in late November.
Cubillos applied for the competition in October by submitting an online application with four musical videos of herself singing. By winning Honorable Mention, she received a medallion, a $250 award and an invitation to perform in a regional YoungArts program in Los Angeles.
“The best part about winning this award is the community of people involved,” Cubillos said. “YoungArts is a nationally recognized competition, and I’m so grateful I get to be a part of such a talented group of people from around the country.”
Due to winning this award, Cubillos has been inducted into the YoungArts Foundation community, which consists of all of the student-award recipients in past years. The Foundation provides resources and support to the winners to further their musical careers, and Cubillos wants to use these opportunities to kick-start her future career in the music industry.
“I found out about YoungArts by seeing some of my friends compete and thought it looked like such an amazing opportunity for me to put myself out there,” Cubillos said. “I had never entered a national competition before and thought it would be a great learning experience.”
Cubillos began her music career at age six, when her parents enrolled her in vocal lessons. Shortly after, she began performing in front of people at her elementary school’s community theater. Singing has always been what she is most passionate about, according to Cubillos.
“My favorite thing about performing is connecting with people,” Cubillos said. “Music is such a powerful thing, and the fact that my voice is able to make people feel something is crazy to think about. To be able to connect with people on an emotional level is amazing and is what makes performing such an incredible experience.”
Typically, she enjoys listening to singer-songwriter pop music and R&B songs, Cubillos said. However, she loves any type of music that tells a story, and prefers to perform ballads and slower songs.
“I know that sometimes people may think [slower songs] are boring, but I think there’s something so powerful in more simple songs that allows you to really feel what you’re singing,” Cubillos said. “[I like] anything that makes me feel something and understand what the artist is trying to convey.”
Cubillos is currently a part of Costa’s Drama Department and choir, in which she sings at various events, plays and musicals. She also performs with the Costa a capella group, Coterie, and with another a capella group, Legacy, that sings at various events in Los Angeles. In the future, Cubillos plans to study music in college, and she will also have a role in Drama’s newest musical, “Into the Woods,” in April.
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