For the past three years, The Tri-City News has talked to more than a dozen recent high school graduates about their dreams of making it big in the arts. The interviews formed part of a series called Bright Young Things and highlighted the top creative students - in School District 43 as well as Archbishop Carney regional secondary - just as they were to leave for their post-secondary education around the world. Last month, The News caught up with six of the local grads featured to see how they are faring. And here's what we got back from Jeff Huggins, Fiona McIntyre and Louise Hung, who also offered a few words of wisdom for this year's grad class.
JEFF HUGGINS (GLENEAGLE)
When we last spoke with Jeff Huggins at his Coquitlam home, the musician, then 18, had a large piece of paper taped to his bedroom wall that mapped out his future goals.
Next to it was a letter of acceptance into the four-year music program at Vancouver Community College.
But that path was not meant to be.
After 18 months at VCC as a jazz/contemporary voice major, Huggins found his grades and passion for school slipping. He dropped out and took some time off early last year to figure out his next move.
"I had the itch to move away from home and start a life for myself but, because I didn't have quite enough money, I started saving up by playing music down at Granville Island every day as a busker," he wrote to The News in May.
With his income not so stable, Huggins decided to pack his bags, say goodbye to his friends and family and buy a bus ticket to Montreal - with no permanent place to stay.
That's when luck struck.
After a few days in town, Huggins found the perfect apartment. Now, he's learning French, exploring the city and earning his keep by busking in the metro subway. "I'm developing my musicianship and using the Grande Bibliotheque as my makeshift classroom or 'Self-University.'"
He added, "I have been continuously inspired by art and my thirst for it has only grown after leaving home. Montreal is home to many interactive art installations, artists, musicians and more. Music has been, is and always will be the biggest mystery to me. It's all about connection."
Huggins is philosophical when he gives tips for this year's graduates, saying, "You are the creator of your own reality. Find your passion and take action! Don't spend your time living someone else's life - even if you think you're doing them a favour, you aren't. Live your life and love yourself."
FIONA MCINTYRE (Heritage)
A lot has happened for Fiona McIntyre since she was featured in The News three years ago.
Then, she was narrowing her choices to study musical theatre at an American university. Trained at Coquitlam's Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts, McIntyre had letters of acceptance from Oklahoma City University, Randolph Academy, Wright State University, Pace University and Montclair State University.
McIntyre picked Montclair for her bachelor of fine arts degree - a New Jersey school that offered her a $9,000-per-year scholarship for four years - with an end goal to teach.
She has been cast in shows, workshops and a dance industrial that travelled to Miami. In 2012, McIntyre was named as a Top 20 finalist with fellow Lindbjerg triple threat Jennifer Gillis in CBC-TV's Over the Rainbow.
Last month, McIntyre wrapped up her junior year - a year in which she performed in the university premiere of Take Flight, a new musical by Maltby and Shire. "It was such an exhilarating experience performing new material and having the chance to speak with the writers after they came to see the show."
This summer, McIntyre will be playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Mary Amnesia in Nunsense and Spamalot at Papermill Theatre in New Hampshire. In September, she'll return for her last semester of full-time classes before moving to the Big Apple to audition in front of casting directors, managers and agents.
McIntyre said the City of the Arts and Lindbjerg proved to be good training ground. "When I'm struggling with challenges at school or going in for a really tough audition in New York, I remember the passion that Elaine [Lindbjerg] has for this art form and how she has encouraged me to find the joy in everything that I do."
As for her words of encouragement for this year's arts grads, McIntyre said, "Do the thing that makes you happiest. If you find that thing, your work will never seem like work."
LOUISE HUNG (GLENEAGLE)
Taiwan native Louise Hung has been studying piano since the age of four and, in Grade 1, took up with Marjory Purdy, an instructor at Coquitlam's Place des Arts.
Under her guidance, Hung scored numerous awards including 10 Conservatory Canada medals of excellence for clinching the highest marks in B.C. for an exam: five for piano, three for theory and two for history.
In her Grade 12 year at Gleneagle, Hung clinched a $20,000 scholarship to attend the University of Victoria; she told The News she hoped to complete a music degree concurrently with a bachelor's of arts in history.
Last month, she finished her second year at UVIC in the piano performance program; however, her dream for a double history degree didn't pan out. "I realized that there were so many more music-specific courses, whether about history or not, that I would rather be taking for my electives," she said.
Hung added, "I suppose, in general, I am always working to be a better musician by performing as much as I can, digging deeper into the structure and emotional subtleties of pieces, improving my technique and researching the historical background and origins of the music I interpret."
Hung plans on a master's degree in piano performance or a PhD in music history, with Europe following.
For this year's grads, Hung imparts some words from UVIC voice professor Benjamin Butterfield: Do what you love and you will be rewarded.
"Personally, moving away from home and going to university, I realized how important it is to be honest to yourself about school, work, relationships and yourself," Hung said. "Make decisions that will make you feel happy in ways that aren't based on instant and temporary gratification. Be happy and live for yourself."
