by Sienna Nicholson
At Coronado High School, a wide variety of performing art electives are offered to students for an opportunity to explore their creative passions. From learning to play instruments in band to singing beautiful songs in choir, there are no limits to what is possible.
Senior Zoe McCracken took that to heart when she decided to participate in all of them.
“I love the performing arts and I’m happiest when I’m performing,” McCracken said. “I love to expand my horizons as a musician and challenge myself with those kinds of things.”
Such a passion couldn’t be tamed when it came time to decide what electives she would take her senior year. While it isn’t abnormal for students to overlap in two electives, McCracken goes above and beyond with a schedule that would make most students faint.
At the start of her day, McCracken would alternate between leading Coronado’s marching band as drum major or performing in the Madrigals Choir as a soprano section leader. From there she rehearses as a first chair trombonist with the Wind Ensemble, before teaching other theatre students as a Theatre IV.
Practically living in the performing arts hall, McCracken then assists the sopranos in Coronado’s Concert Choir. And yet, despite her open sixth, she is not free after that.
With the spring musical underway, McCracken will be performing as the leading lady of Donna in Mamma Mia!, which of course means plenty of after-school rehearsals.
“Zoe works really hard,” friend and senior Lily Guo said. “She’s like a triple threat. Even more than that, so she knows how to spend her time equally to contribute to all of the different things that she does, and she gives 100% to everything. She’s amazing.”
Even with such a busy schedule, her artistic dedication doesn’t stop at school activities. After auditioning for the Clark County 2022 Honor Choir (an audition-only choir that presents some of the most talented choral students across the district) McCracken not only made it into the choir, but she was also granted the role of soprano section leader after performing the best audition in her section.
Along with this, she will be performing in both the 2022 Honor Band as well as All-State, which has performers from all over the state rather than just the county.
On the daily, McCracken will be busy beyond belief, and many wonder how she can manage to go through it all without collapsing with all of the rehearsals, performances, and extra leadership work the talented senior puts into Coronado’s performing arts.
“The teachers are very flexible and are willing to work around each other’s schedules to make it work for me,” McCracken explained. “I also just make sure I have time so that I can do everything without being drained.”
Needless to say, Zoe McCracken is one of many who proudly show their love and dedication to the performing arts. If students wish to show their support to the talented wonder, they can catch her at any announced choir or band concert, the Honor Band’s performance at UNLV on January 13th and 14th, or her leading debut performance in Mamma Mia! February 8th and 10th.
