Chelsea Holmes is a Huntington Star
She has entertained crowds with her singing, acting and dancing, inspired classmates, impressed teachers and won countless friends. Huntington High School senior Chelsea Holmes has been earning admirers since that first day 13 years ago that she sat down in the district kindergarten class.
Ms. Holmes has a stage presence that few young people can match. She has been involved with school theatrical productions since fourth grade. The teenager credits Woodhull Intermediate School musical productions “for sparking my passion for theatre.”
An essential member of the high school drama club, Ms. Holmes tried her hand at directing this fall, serving as one of three student directors for the successful production of Anne of Green Gables. She will be back on stage in April as a cast member of Huntington’s spring musical.
“This district provided me with my first experience of being in a show and I will always be grateful for that,” Ms. Holmes said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed being an active member of the music department at Huntington.”
Prez of HHS Choir
The senior is president of the Huntington High School choir and closely collaborates with choir director Veronica Mainville. “She is a wonderful teacher and person,” Ms. Holmes said about the popular music department faculty member. “Her enthusiasm has really helped to make the choir into something special.”
An All-State soprano, Ms. Holmes even sang the Star Spangled Banner at a Blue Devil football game this fall, her voice carrying over the high school building and out into the community. “I have been in the chamber choir since my sophomore year and have especially loved performing our pieces by Eric Whitacre,” she said.
An excellent student, Ms. Holmes has many fond memories, but some of the best have occurred on and off the high school stage as a drama club member. Some of her past roles include playing Julie Jordan in Carousel, Jo March in Little Women and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music.
“These roles helped me to develop my acting, singing and dancing skills, but perhaps more importantly my character and work ethic,” Ms. Holmes said. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be nominated at Hunting-Tonys each year and I am honored to have won Best Actress in a Musical Award for the role of Jo March in Little Women.”
President of Huntington’s drama club as a sophomore, Ms. Holmes currently serves as the organization’s president. In addition to being a scholar, actress, singer and dancer, she is also a world traveler.
Traveled to Europe Last Summer
“Over the summer I traveled to Berlin, Prague, Munich, the Swiss Alps and Paris on an EF Tours trip organized by my social studies teacher of three years, Camille Tedeschi,” Ms. Holmes said. “It was truly and amazing experience that solidified my plans to study abroad in college for at least a semester. I particularly enjoyed the beautiful opera houses in Munich and Paris along with the serenity of the Swiss Alps. I strongly encourage students to take the opportunity to travel abroad.”
President of Huntington’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter, Ms. Holmes is also a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, English Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society and Key Club. “I am very excited to run a combined poetry-jazz cafe next spring with the English Honor Society,” she said.
Ms. Holmes is certainly not coasting in this her senior year. Her course schedule includes Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition, AP Government and Politics, AP Environmental Science, AP Statistics, AP Microeconomics, Theater Arts, Chamber Choir and Women’s Studies.
“Social studies and English are my favorite subjects,” Ms. Holmes said. “Last year I would often leave AP US History thinking about our class discussions for days afterwards.”
The teenager participated in last year’s National History Day competition, advancing to the Long Island regional finals at Hofstra University for her sensational research paper on the impact of the removal of the gold standard on the global economy.
“I’m glad National History Day was a requirement for my AP US History class last year because I ended up really enjoying it despite the amount of hours spent researching,” Ms. Holmes said.
Engaged in College Auditions
The senior plans to study musical theater and vocal performance in college. “During my junior year I advanced in several national competitions, including first place in the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) in both classical and musical theater,” Ms. Holmes said. “I was a second round finalist in the classical singer vocal competition in the classical and musical theatre divisions as well. These competitions really helped to prepare me for my college auditions, which I have already started.”
Ms. Holmes participated in her first college audition at Chapman University in California on November 9. She will continue the audition process through February at New York University, Pace University, Hofstra University, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Boston Conservatory, Roosevelt University and Barnard College-Columbia University. “I am also very interested in language study due to my classical voice training and may minor in German in college,” the senior said.
Remarkably Talented and Well-Balanced
Over the past four years, Ms. Holmes has been “very involved” with her religious congregation, Shuvah Yisrael, singing every Saturday. “I serve as the regional representative for the YMJA (Young Messianic Jewish Alliance) for the northeast region, which required me to plan last years’ regional conference and lead group discussions,” the teenager said. “I was surprised at how much I enjoyed working for this organization and astonished by the response I received from the administration and the individual members.”
A remarkably talented and well-balanced young woman, Ms. Holmes will always be remembered by her teachers and classmates for the passion she displayed while pursuing her interests. She enthusiastically embraces life and is constantly seeking self-improvement. The teenager is also a kind and considerate friend, always ready to lend a helping hand.
“Get involved” is Ms. Holmes’ advice to incoming freshmen. “Huntington High School has so much to offer so use your time to find something that interests you and run with it,” the senior said. “High school is a time to learn and grow so don’t be too hard on yourself for making mistakes and don’t be afraid to try something for fear of failure. I’ve found that I’ve grown the most in the most difficult times because I learned to how to pick myself up and get through it.”