Artist of the Week: Helena Gell
Warwick Valley Middle School sixth-grader Helena Gell is heavily involved in the arts both in and outside of school. She has been practicing and performing ever since she was a student at Park Avenue Elementary School and has been exploring even more new opportunities in music and theater as a middle schooler. Helena has multiple stage roles on her resume already (with more on the way), performs with multiple ensembles, and still manages to be an exemplary student; she’s an Honor Roll appointee many times over, as well as a WVMS Student of the Month for September.
“The first time I heard Helena’s powerful voice, I was blown away,” said WVMS chorus teacher and Ukulele Club advisor Shane Peters. “She continues to impress me with each performance and keeps getting better and better with every gig. She’s got an amazing voice and a great personality to match it!”
Mr. Peters looks to Helena as a leader in the sixth-grade chorus and selected her to be a featured vocalist in the Ukulele Club. She has participated in multiple Orange County Music Educator All-County Festivals and, in just fifth grade, competed in the voice category for New York State School Music Association competition.
Helena’s main musical interests are singing and performing, but she’s also an instrumentalist who plays in the middle school band. She remembers the exciting first opportunity in fourth grade to choose an instrument to learn from a band room full of possibilities.
“I chose percussion,” said Helena, “and I’ve been playing ever since!”
Still, it’s singing on stage that Helena really loves best, and she’s already had quite a bit of stage experience in school and as part of the Warwick Reformed Church’s WRC Theatre Company.
“I’ve performed in a few plays, like Seussical — a combination of a few Dr. Seuss books that were made into a musical — and I’ve also done Shrek,” Helena said, adding that she is excited to be play the titular lead in the WRC’s production of Junie B. Jones, a stage adaptation of the best-selling books by Barbara Park. Helena plans to audition for the middle school play later this year.
A big part of what Helena enjoys so much about performing is seeing the results of everyone’s hard work come together, which aligns with the reasons for her nomination as a September Student of the Month – Helena is a supportive team player who understands that every voice in an ensemble is important.
“Overall, [the nomination] was for being a good communicator,” Helena said. “I participate in class and, I guess, I’m good at elaborating for others, working well in groups, and making sure that everyone is heard.
“And, with performing, it’s just fun to be able to share things that [the cast] has been working on with everyone in the audience, and to know that they were entertained and enjoyed it.”
Speaking of being a good communicator, Helena also participates in the middle school’s Literary Magazine and its American Sign Language Club, which she has done since Park Avenue.
“My mom is an ASL teacher, so I thought it would be fun if I joined and tried to learn as well,” Helena said.
With the winter concert season right around the corner, Helena and her fellow chorus, band and Ukulele Club performers are having a great time preparing their programs. For passionate performers like Helena, it truly is one of the most wonderful times of the year, and it shows in the enthusiasm of their rehearsals. If you can make it out for one (or more) of this year’s middle and/or high school winter concerts, each one is a joy… and maybe you’ll even catch a solo by Helena!
“Helena’s performance future is bright,” said Mr. Peters. “And I am so happy I’ve been able to be part of the ride!”
