STEVENSVILLE — Grasonville Elementary proudly announces Loa Harris as the QACPS Performing Arts ‘Pre-Teen of the Week’. Loa is a rising sixth grader at Stevensville Middle School and was nominated for this honor this summer by Jamie Dean, music teacher at GES.
“When Loa takes center stage and starts singing, she immediately gets everyone’s attention with her powerhouse vocals full of emotion,” said Dean. “Not only has Loa performed in many concerts at Grasonville Elementary, but she has also participated in community theatre at The Avalon and has been a part of the Kent Island Youth Theatre for the last three years. Loa has tackled roles in Aladdin, Frozen, Elf, and is a rising star in the Performing Arts arena.”
Loa began performing at a young age. When asked, she said her earliest memory of performing was, “When I was three or four years old. I dressed up and put on a show for my parents. I reenacted the dance from the Disney movie Zombies.”
Looking towards the future, Loa says she can see herself continuing to perform in middle and high school, as well as joining Chorus to further her singing career. “I would love to get a main character role at some point,” said Loa.
Although she has many performance-related memories and experiences, she recalled that it was when she was cast in Frozen that a group of her friends helped her feel more confident, working through roadblocks together, and she ended up performing as one of the main roles.
When asked why she believes the Performing Arts are important, she said, “I think it’s important to help kids find their confidence, their voice, and find a passion for their talent. The Arts have made me better by helping my confidence when in public.”
Dean added, “Loa is a beautiful person that I have been so fortunate to teach. She is such a kind soul and is eager to make sure everyone is included and goes out of her way to make sure others feel good about themselves. Loa is a very insightful, creative student who thinks outside the box and is eager to try new skills to improve and enhance the performance of others. It is always exciting to see Loa perform because she adds so much enthusiasm to our lessons and contributes ideas based on her personal experiences.”
Loa’s parents also shared these inspiring sentiments: “Loa, you are such a bright light in the lives of everyone who knows you. We knew you would make a huge impact on the world the moment you were born, and we couldn’t be prouder of the incredible person you are! We’re so excited to see what you’ll accomplish in your life!”
Dean concluded by saying that as a teacher, one of the most rewarding experiences is seeing how students make connections and apply their ideas. “Loa is always providing these experiences for me and our class,” said Dean. “My first experience with Loa’s performing abilities was during our annual talent show. I never expected to hear this amazing singing voice coming from Loa. It was amazing to see how she came to life on that stage. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her!”
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