Since high school, Hill has performed in five professional regional theatre productions in Michigan
A Pioneer High School alum passionate about theatre and music continues to make strides in musical theater, proving the transformative power of high school arts programs.
“Pioneer has brought me many lessons and memories that have only helped shape my career now,” says Cali Hill, a 2022 graduate who is finishing her junior year in Oakland University’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance.
She particularly remembers the camaraderie of the Pioneer Theatre Guild’s annual talent show FutureStars, calling it a “personal favorite” where students championed one another. She received three Top Five Future Star nominations during her high school career.
“I’d like to thank my directors at PTG, Alex Leydonfrost and Jayme Kelmigian, and the community there for giving such a surreal theater experience,” says Hill, a four-year member of PTG. “They truly set the bar high in their productions and so many students will grow to be strong performers because of the talent and guidance they are given. Everyone there wants to see you succeed and you can sense that through how much work and effort they put in their productions.”
Hill delivered a memorable performance as Fantine in the school’s production of “Les Misérables” during her senior year. Also that year, she received the Robert Albritton Leadership in Music Award as a student Steven Lorenz’s Choral and A Cappella program.
“The music program as a whole at Pioneer is the ideal place for a student to develop their craft, and I’m very appreciative of the tools and breakthroughs I gained from my teachers, staff, and peers,” says Hill.
Hill’s theatrical career actually began before she got to Pioneer. During her Tappan Middle School years, she honed her musical skills with the Ann Arbor Youth Choral and Tappan choir, studying under the guidance of Bonnie Kidd.
Since high school, Hill has performed in five professional regional theatre productions in Michigan, including one at The Encore Musical Theatre Company.
For more about Cali Hill, read this profile in the Oakland University Foundations newsletter.
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