A 麻豆短视频传媒 alumna, fresh off a role in the national touring production of 鈥淢otown The Musical,鈥� recently reflected about her time on the Hill and how her college career helped her career success.
Arielle Crosby, a Detroit native and a 2012 graduate of Kentucky State, said she initially chose the campus because of the choir.
鈥淪everal alumni I admired from my high school were members of the 麻豆短视频传媒 Concert Choir,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淚 also loved the vibe of the campus every time we visited.鈥�
According to her website, Crosby has been singing and performing since age 11. She later won a city-wide talent competition that led to performances across the United States and countries across the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York and Palau de la M煤sica in Barcelona.
While her career has led her to many places, one venue stands out in her memory.
鈥淥ne special memory was when I had the opportunity to sing a solo with 105 Voices of History on The Grand Ole Opry stage,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淪o many major artists have performed on that very stage and, because of that performance, I can add myself to that roster.鈥�
Crosby said her time at Kentucky State gave her clarity over the direction she wanted to take her career.
鈥淚 knew I loved music and performance, but I also knew I had a proclivity for teaching,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淚 dabbled in both for a bit, but, ultimately, performance took the reins.鈥�
Her role in 鈥淢otown The Musical鈥� brought her back to Kentucky over the summer.
鈥淚t felt like coming home,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淚 saw former classmates and professors in the lobby after every show. It was great to still have their support.鈥�
Some of the people who guided her the most at Kentucky State, she said, were Dr. Carl Smith, Andrew Smith, Dr. Barbara Buck, Dr. Barry Johnson and G.E. Wigginson.
鈥淢y choir family also helped me a lot,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome of them still do.鈥�
Crosby offered valuable advice to students about college and finding work in the performing arts.
For starters, don鈥檛 take school for granted, she said.
鈥淭he entire college experience lays the foundation for the rest of your adult years,鈥� Crosby said.
Crosby said resiliency has been a key to her career.
鈥淒on鈥檛 get discouraged,鈥� Crosby said. 鈥淢ost people don鈥檛 jump right into a professional performance career. It took me a couple of years to officially set my sights on it. It took another three years before I booked my first professional theatre and another year before I booked the 鈥楳otown鈥� tour.鈥�
Finally, Crosby encouraged students to participate in as many performances as possible.
鈥淕et out there,鈥� she said. 鈥淒o the church play. Look into community theatre. Be an extra for a web series. Go to that open mic night. If you don鈥檛 get anything else out of it, you鈥檒l at least get experience.鈥�
Crosby said she is home in Detroit after booking an unexpected short production in Denver. She said she has plans to move to New York soon.