Art comes in many shapes and forms. Music, however, is art for your ears. Ciara Theisz is a senior at Meridian High School and has lived in Falls Church her entire life. She has loved music forever, and finds many ways to incorporate it into her learning and free time. 

“I love to listen to music, write songs, or even just brainstorm certain lyrics in my free time,” Theisz commented. 

Theisz is very involved with music and performance at Meridian. She has been in the Chamber Singers since her sophomore year, and will continue to finish out her senior year. Anyone can sign up and participate in the Concert Choir, however for Chamber Singers you must audition to be considered. Theisz participates in plays and musicals here at Meridian, including the recent “Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” which was from March 31 to April 2.

Theisz has always been fond of music, and it has been a part of her everyday life for longer than she can remember. “I’ve loved music forever since I was a little kid, my mom even made up lullabies to help me go to sleep, I still remember most of them.”

Eventually, Theisz began to write and make her own music. 

“I’ve been writing songs since I was 14, and it kind of just picked up from there,” Theisz said. “The first time I did it, I realized it was a great way to express my feelings and relieve my stress in life.” 

Music serves many purposes. For some it’s like therapy; for others it helps bring focus when studying, and some jam out to their favorite tunes any time they’re in the car. 

“Music is my journal,” Theisz remarked.

Theisz also hopes to help others through music in the future. By educating and continuing to create songs that are meaningful to her. She plans on pursuing songwriting and production in college. She has always enjoyed making music for herself, but is also particularly passionate about some pieces she has created for others. Her family are her best supporters and they love to see Theisz maintaining a passion for her art in her education and free time. 

She enjoys representing her heritage, and other special interests through melody and song. When asked who else she has enjoyed writing music for, Theisz responded: “My grandma. For her birthday I wrote half of a song, and finished it for her as a Christmas gift. It was about Ireland and the beach.” 

To start off her difficult musical journey, Theisz was in the Concert Choir in her freshman year of Highschool. Her goal was to audition for Chamber Singers, the advanced ensemble, and hopefully make the cut. Despite her extensive knowledge of and love for music, there was more to learn. Throughout her sophomore to senior years in Chamber Singers, Ciara has not only learned many beautiful pieces of music, but many important skills of music as well. One thing she originally struggled with was sight reading, which allows musicians to read and respond to sheet music faster. Despite the struggle, Ciara made it a goal to tackle sight reading and showed perseverance and dedication to mastering the challenging task. 

“I went into it [the audition] not really being good at certain things but I worked really hard to improve by going to voice lessons and practicing.” 

Role models are important in every area of life. To be able to look up to someone who embodies excellence in a field you’re passionate about is very motivating and encouraging. Music most definitely has its moguls, and every individual has their own favorite artists and genres. Ciara sees role models in music through an aspirational lens, looking up to many notable artists and aspiring to inspire like they do one day. 

“Oh there are way too many [role models] to count,” Theisz remarked. “But I guess the most notable has to be Taylor Swift. I love how she puts emotion into her songs. Or Kelly Clarkson, I’ve listened to her music forever. Aretha Franklin, we have sung some of her songs in choir. And Britney Spears, of course.”

Theisz hopes that in the future she can inspire others with her music as these role models have inspired her. Through teaching and creating, she will always remain dedicated to the art she has so much love for.

“Music will always be in my life. It always has been and it always will be.”