Performing Vocal Ensemble | Choir | Cincinnati, Ohio

Article by Alex Thio

It is always a pleasure to witness how the way many SCSS alumni members pursue their musical talents. Today, I would like to spotlight one of these talented SCSS members: Zack Steele (SCSS 2006)

AT: You are no stranger to the SCSS as an alumni of this choral group. Tell us when you first joined the SCSS and which countries you had the pleasure of visiting and performing at with the group.

ZS: I first joined SCSS in 2006 the summer before the group left. I remember being so nervous for the audition that I could hardly stand still. I was fresh off my first year of high school and I was looking forward to working with Mrs. Gartner again. It TOTALLY paid off, however, because it gave me one of the most rewarding experiences I have EVER had. Our group got to visit the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and all over Central Europe. I was fortunate enough to be granted the opportunity to perform a couple solos as well as a trio with some close friends, and I have to say that singing by yourself in a cathedral that is older than your home country is pretty humbling and awe-inspiring and it is something I will never forget as long as I live.

AT: It’s always a thrill to see SCSS members pursuing their passions. Zack, we hear you’re involved in the current production of GODSPELL. Tell us more about your role in the musical, and perhaps what the challenges have been.

ZS: Yes, I am very proud to say that I am part of the Cast of the 2009 Aves Theatre Summer Production of GODSPELL. The experience that I have had with this group of people has been absolutely invaluable to my development of a performer and as a person and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I was pleasantly surprised this summer to be cast as the lead role of Jesus, which despite its obvious religious implications, is a very dynamic role with deeper levels then just the religious piece. It has been an incredible challenge for me taking on this role for many reasons, first of all, I have never had the lead role in the show before and this show in particular calls for a leader with strong stamina that is able to drive the action and be an example for the others in the cast. It was a challenge for me to step up and fill that role but more than anything I think the lines were the toughest, not only were they in biblical terms… but I have never seen more lines for a character in a script before in my life. If I had one tip for anyone that is new to the stage it would be: memorization is key. You can’t act if you’re holding a script in your hand.

AT: You’ve always been involved in musical performances. Share with us why your passion lies in vocal and theatrical performance.

ZS: Back when my brothers Josh and Jesse were in High School and even Junior High at Sycamore, they were always involved in the musicals, shows and concerts. I remember going to their performances and telling myself that that was what I wanted to do when I was in their place. I’ve always had a passion for singing; my dad has been in a band for as long as I can remember and I’ve never let that dream die. Because of my whole family’s aptitude for performance, I have always loved being on stage but I never really got my shot until my friends finally convinced me in my sophomore year of high school to audition for a set of student-directed one-acts. Since then I haven’t looked back, taking advantage of every possible performance opportunity and working like crazy to fix my flaws and constantly better my skills. I have no regrets and I love doing what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

AT: What do you think the next academic year will hold for you?

ZS: Academically, I have taken on a much harder set of classes next year including some AP’s, as well as some Accelerated classes. My hope is to keep my GPA up to an above-average rating which, coupled with my college auditions (I am going into Musical Theater for College), will hopefully make me a promising candidate for some of the more prestigious Musical Theater programs in the country.

About Zack Steele:
Zack Steele is an incoming senior at Sycamore High School. His personal involvement in theater began when his friends convinced him to audition for a set of student-directed one-act plays and eventually the 2006-2007 school year Spring Musical “West Side Story.” Since then he has not left the stage, participating in every theatrical production following, including: Les Miserables, Don’t Drink the Water (Axel), Metamorphoses, and Parade (Frankie). The culmination of his rise in theater was exemplified when he won the 2008 Overture Awards Scholarship Competition in the Theater category. Zack is also heavily involved in the choir program at Sycamore, where he participates in the show choir “Touring Company” as well as the extra-curricular men’s ensemble “S.H.A.G.” (Sycamore High Acapella Group). His lifelong love of music stems from his incredibly musical family. His father, Tom, is a singer/guitarist for two popular local bands (Toast/Slice), his brother Josh, an alumnus of Aves Theater, runs the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center and was a Vocal Performance major in college, his brother Jesse, also an alumnus of Sycamore, had a rock band in high school and now spends a lot of his free time writing and performing original songs and entertaining everywhere he goes.