Maddy Manning-Bi: A Life in the Performing Arts
We learned from Maddy Manning-Bi about her life in the performing arts.
Tell us how you got started with the performing arts.
I originally started singing and playing the piano around the age of three or four. My mom is a piano teacher, so naturally I started with piano, then voice. I studied with my mom growing up, but from the age of twelve, have been working with an emeritus professor from Louisiana State University. I have also played violin since I was five years old and cello for now one year. Basically, my family has always been very centered in the arts and music.
As far as theatre and musical theatre go, the first Broadway show I ever saw was Disney’s The Little Mermaid when I was three years old. While I don’t remember much from it, my parents told me that after the show ended, I turned to them and announced that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. However, my first actual experience with being in theatre and acting was in my Talented Drama class from sixth grade. We did a compressed version of “Orpheus and Eurydice” (I was Eurydice), and I remember having so much fun and just loving it. As for musical theatre, the first show I did was in seventh grade, and it was the junior version of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” where I was Charlie. I recall absolutely loving being up there, and I guess musical theatre in general has stuck with me since the age of three.
What does your practice and performance schedule look like?
Looking at just voice and theatre, I meet with my voice professor once a week and we work on an assortment of songs, with usually a heavy classical focus and maybe one or two musical theatre songs. Depending on how busy I am throughout the year, I’ll try to participate in one or two shows in community theatre. As far as I’m aware, there aren’t any opportunities for youth opera where I live but there are plenty for musical theatre, which is always a fun way to collaborate with other kids my age and to learn. Around mid-May every year, my mom always has a studio recital for all her piano and voice students, where I also perform.
On a day to day basis, my schedule with practicing voice is very flexible and all depends on my workload from school or how I’m feeling that day. As for the other three instruments I play, I try to practice them at least for a little bit every day. The time I practice varies anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour for each instrument.
A private lesson at Juilliard’s summer program.
How has singing impacted your life beyond just singing? (Emotionally, socially, etc.)
Singing has impacted me in so many ways, both emotionally and socially. For starters, I can always turn to music and voice no matter what. Whether I’ve had a bad day or am bored, I know I can simply pull out sheet music and let my other worries disappear. Socially, it has given me an incredible community of young artists; for instance, doing community musical theatre or attending summer programs like Juilliard. Being a young artist voice student at Juilliard made me feel so incredibly comfortable and understood by the faculty and by my peers, since we all share this same love for music, specifically singing. Even beyond this, it has given me a sense of purpose and stability, knowing that while I’m not entirely sure where the future will take me, I always want music and voice to be a part of it.
Have you encountered any challenges? If so, how did you face them?
Some challenges I’ve encountered have been self-doubt, and at times, just falling out of love with music for small periods of time and not being entirely sure if it’s the right track for me. I think that everyone goes through thoughts of self-doubt, and for me, it was really just not being sure if I was talented enough since music is such a difficult career and lifestyle. But when I think about it, I know that if I continue to have fun with what I’m doing, keep learning more about it, and improving, I can move forward from those viewpoints.
Besides this, recently I have been questioning if performing and voice is the right path for me simply because I have so many interests, and I feel guilty at times when I meet other students who just know for sure that music is the only track for them. For me, I’m so interested in writing, politics, history, orchestra, and other topics that it can be discouraging to wonder if I have enough passion for music. But to face that, I just remind myself that I’m still young and still have plenty of time to make a solidified decision and no matter what I choose, music will always be a part of my life. Another piece of advice that a professor from the Juilliard camp gave me was how nowadays, we seem to discourage students from following more than one or two passions, but in reality, I should follow as many interests that I have because it adds to the experiences you have within your life, and you can never have too many.
What is one thing you learned from opera and musical theater?
One thing that I learned and that I am definitely still learning and working on is just opening yourself up and being vulnerable to the audience with your character or the emotions you’re conveying. Generally, I feel like I’m still shy on stage and I do have a hard time just letting my body relax and reveal what I want to reveal. It’s probably one of the most difficult things I’ve had to work through with performing and acting, so I really have to try and break through my own fears and the voice that’s saying how stupid one hand gesture is or something. But the whole thing about the performing arts is just being willing to take risks, so knowing that and slowly learning to accept it have definitely helped me grow as an artist.
What has been your most memorable moment in opera/musical theater?
My most memorable moment in opera/musical theatre would have to be attending the Juilliard School’s two-week summer intensive in Geneva, Switzerland. I was a Young Artist Voice Major, which basically meant that for those two weeks, my life was just be singing and music. It was the most intense and incredible experience where I grew so much as a musician, as an artist, and really as a person.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I would have to say that the accomplishment that I’m most proud of is being accepted by the Juilliard School for their two-week summer intensive. It was an incredible honor to attend such a prestigious school’s program.
What do you love most about opera/musical theater?
With regards to opera/musical theatre, I love the rush of opening night and performing in general. The energy that you feel on stage is unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life. It’s this wonderful mixture of adrenaline, fear, and devotion to your art that makes the performing arts so unique and special.
What is your favorite musical?
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to pick a favorite musical, but I do have a top five! One of them would have to be Disney’s The Little Mermaid just because it is the show that introduced me to musical theatre. My other favorites (in no particular order) would be Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, Dear Evan Hansen, Spring Awakening, and West Side Story. I love both the Golden Age of Broadway as well as more contemporary, newer musicals.
What is your favorite classical piece?
While this rotates depending on what I’m singing or what new operas I’ve seen, currently, two of my favorite classical pieces are “Voi, che sapete” from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro (which was the first aria I sang) and “Già il sole dal Gange” by Alessandro Scarlatti.
What would be your dream role?
Once again, I don’t think I would be able to pick just one so here are a few from both musical theatre and opera. For musical theatre, I would say Ariel from The Little Mermaid (of course), Anastasia from Anastasia (the music fits me so well), and Natasha Rostova from Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (it has a beautiful score with an incredibly rich narrative from Tolstoy’s War and Peace). For opera, it would be an honor to play Cherubino from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro as the first aria I ever sang was Cherubino’s. Another dream role of mine in the classical world would be Carmen from Bizet’s Carmen as I believe it’s mezzo-soprano voice type would fit me well, and it is an incredibly famous and spectacular work.
Maddy at Juilliard’s youth artist voice summer program, singing two madrigals.
And, a couple extra for fun…
What is your favorite class at the OHS so far?
I’m only going into my sophomore year (and second year) at OHS, so just looking at my freshman year, I would definitely have to say that my favorite class so far has been AP U.S. History with Dr. Sletcher. I’m fascinated by history and especially, United States’ history (I have no idea why, but this combined with the pace of the class and Dr. Sletcher’s style of teaching made it a blast).
What do you like to do for fun, outside of school and singing/performing?
I love to write and read outside of school and performing. I’m very interested in creative writing and am even considering it as a double major along with voice for college. I also enjoy participating in orchestras as a first violinist. Besides this, playing cello and piano have become a more central focus in my life as I’ve gotten older. Also, the characteristic trait of an OHSer, I love Skype calling my friends! Whether it’s for studying or just to have a quick chat as a release from school’s pressure, I always have so much fun talking to my friends. Besides the OHS community, most of my other friends are all international or live across the states, so being able to communicate with them is always a great time.
What is one fun fact most people don’t know about you?
One fun fact about me that most people don’t know is that I did martial arts (Taekwondo) from the ages of five to about twelve! I’m a junior black belt in it, and at the time, I was training for Junior Olympics as well as competing in national competitions.