Amit Lowy: Exploring new opera-tunities with her talent

BY JULIA SAFRIN

It’s no secret that CCHS’ student body consists of many foreign students who have moved to the United States in recent years and have added to the diversity of the school. These individuals bring their language, culture, traditions and talent to the student population. Among these students is Amit Lowy, a freshman who moved from Israel to the U.S. in July of 2018.

Like any teenager about to move, Lowy was feeling nervous and feared not being able to make friends. When she moved, she only knew a few words in English.

While living in Israel, Lowy partook in a talent show when she was in fifth grade. After being prompted by her music teacher, she discovered just how high she could sing.

“I remember saying to myself that if I am shy and don’t try to make friends, I’ll lose,” Lowy said. “I don’t want to be quiet because I’m not that kind of person.”

Indeed, Lowy has proven that quiet is one thing she’s not. On her transnational journey, she brought both her luggage and her talent. After only a few months of living in the country, Lowy showcased her special skill– opera singing– during the annual CCHS Variety Show. Lowy has been singing opera for four years, ever since she discovered she had a high enough pitch to do so.

While living in Israel, Lowy partook in a talent show when she was in fifth grade. After being prompted by her music teacher, she discovered just how high she could sing.

“She told me that I could sing really high, high enough for opera,” Lowy said. “She asked me if I could be in the talent show and I said yes, so I got a private teacher to help with my opera.”

“When I moved here, I said that I don’t want to stop singing opera and take my talent and not doing anything with it,” Lowy said. “That is why I did the Variety Show.”

Lowy participated in the talent show and practiced despite facing animosity along the way.  

“In Israel, it’s not so popular to sing like that and it’s a little weird when people don’t understand opera. I stopped singing opera after kids started to make fun of me,” Lowy said.

Just like her attitude when she first moved to the United States, Lowy has been very optimistic about her future in opera. She views the move as an opportunity for her to do what she loves. The Variety Show served as a chance to get her back into singing opera.

“When I moved here, I said that I don’t want to stop singing opera and take my talent and not doing anything with it,” Lowy said. “That is why I did the Variety Show.”

Although she has been singing opera for four years, Lowy’s first time performing in front of a large crowd was during the Variety Show.

Because of her love for signing, Lowy is taking chorus as an elective this school year. She performed in a chorus showcase at school, where chorus teacher Anna Lotocky approached Lowy about performing in the Variety Show.

“In the first show I was shaking and really scared,” Lowy said. “The moment the curtain lifted was the scariest part. The second show was easier. After the first, I thought, ‘Okay, I can do this again.’”

Although she has been singing opera for four years, Lowy’s first time performing in front of a large crowd was during the Variety Show.

“Three years ago, I performed in a show but it was only 20 people and most [of the audience was] just parents. That [the Variety Show] was my first time performing in front of a larger crowd in a nice dress, with my hair and makeup done,” Lowy said.  

Lowy showcases her talent in singing opera, however, her love of music is not limited to this particular style. She has a love for all music and sings anything when she’s not performing. It’s a gift that she didn’t seem to inherit from anybody in her family.

“I want to do something with my opera. I want to practice and I have a dream to be a singer, maybe an opera one,” Lowy said.

“I sing opera just in shows. At home, I sing regular pop songs all the time– in English and in Hebrew,” Lowy said. “Nobody else in my family sings, [but] my grandma … really likes to listen to opera and is really proud of me.”

Lowy realizes that she has a vocal gift that she shouldn’t let go to waste and already has a career path in mind for the future.

“I want to do something with my opera. I want to practice and I have a dream to be a singer, maybe an opera one,” Lowy said.

Lowy and her family made a big move from Israel to the United States just five months ago, but this giant change– which may seem daunting to some– has not kept Lowy from taking advantage of every opportunity that comes her way in this new country. She aims as high as her pitch goes.

Photo by Genna Nordling