Avryana: Today’s Musicians, Tomorrow’s Voices

The keyword of the day is leadership.

At least, that is the character value Avryana Clark highlighted while sharing her experience during her five-day civics class at TeenPact, as well as her past and current endeavors.​

As a junior in high school, Avryana has been with SOUNDS Academy for eight years, learning piano and voice, singing in the Soul Revue Collective and the Vocal Collective (she expressed her delight in sticking with both collectives since the very beginning), and helping others learn as a teacher’s assistant in the Piano I class before becoming a student intern with SOUNDS Academy.

Earlier this month, she had the opportunity to join a civics leadership class called TeenPact through her school for the second time. This opportunity was one of her highlights of the month. She loved learning about how bills are passed at the Capitol and how Arizona citizens can play their part in improving their state.

At the camp, she not only grew in knowledge but also in her friendships and faith. During free time and evening sessions, she was able to meet new people from all over Arizona and the country, learning more about others and herself in each conversation.

Avryana mentioned that leadership was a big character value that she was able to show in this class and that it was a great time for self-reflection and self-improvement for the week ahead. She was encouraged to leave her comfort zone. Her challenge was not to overcome public speaking or stage fright but the opposite. Her words describe, “Since my comfort zone is on the stage and talking all of the time. I appreciated learning to listen more by learning to calm down and be quiet for once.”

She also credits the SOUNDS Academy character value, creativity, in leadership as well, since she values very creative leaders who use creativity in problem-solving and preparedness, saying that “Creativity is usually seen as something for artists exclusively, but it is very important for leaders whether we notice it or not.”

Her current goals include not only getting better at her academics, public speaking, and performing, but also directing another play at her school, Big House Christian Academy. After writing and directing a Christmas play in 2024, she is currently directing an Easter play. She is very excited to see it come to life and share it with others in early April.

Avryana hopes to encourage other artists and musicians to focus on self-reflection. Her top three tips are believing that they are as capable as they are; never giving up on any of their goals, no matter how wild or ambitious they may seem; and always thinking outside the limits of their mental boxes.

We’re rooting for you, Avryana! 👏🏿👏🏿