8 minute read
Austin Bakhsh
AUSTIN BAKHSH Local Student Thrives in the Spotlight
Story by Kelly Harley | Photos by Tonya Perry
Austin Bakhsh can captivate an audience. The Savannah Christian Preparatory School (SCPS) senior is a drama student stand out with a passion for musical theater and helping his community. It was early on when Austin’s love of drama took hold. As an audience member at his school’s musical production of Annie, Austin was impressed. “I saw people that I knew acting on stage and thought it looked like fun. It was something that I wanted to try,” says Austin. And try he did. In fifth grade, he became part of the school’s drama program.
Donna Stembridge is the school’s drama and musical production director. She remembers when Austin came into the program. “Austin was very quiet at first. He quickly found his place within the drama community.”
Austin has performed in 20 productions at his school and recently starred as Horton in the Seussical musical. That role allowed him to showcase his fantastic voice and his ability to immerse himself in character.
“Musicals and plays are so much more believable if you put everything you can into every performance. I realized this is my last year, and you only have a short amount of time, and it goes fast. I wanted to put everything in this performance,” says Austin.
Seussical holds a special place in Austin’s heart; it was the first musical that he ever performed in. “When I was young, I remember the bigger kids helping me out. Now I’m able to befriend the younger kids and help them. The amazing thing is there isn’t another crossover activity where different grade levels can participate together,” says Austin.
Austin’s mother, Linda Bakhsh, realized that Austin is more than just good at acting and singing; he brings emotion to his roles. “With Horton, he brought the excitement, the fear, the sadness and hopelessness; he brought all of the emotions to the stage.”
Another favorite production of Austin’s is Newsies. He was cast as Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the New York World and father to Katherine Plumber, a reporter smitten with one of the newsboys. “Austin brings a calming presence to any performance,” says Stembridge. “He has a terrific sense of comedic timing, which he has used in his many dad roles throughout high school.”
Beyond Drama Class
The impact of drama on Austin’s life goes beyond his maturity in his roles. Drama has helped him mature in other areas of his life. “It has helped me socially, and I’m much more comfortable in public speaking and approaching people I don’t know. I’ve become more vocal and more comfortable talking to people.”
Austin’s mom says he has developed into a star student as well. He takes advanced placement classes and is taking a dual enrollment math class that will apply credit towards college. “He has to balance activities and his grades. He has
to be organized and focused and make sure he gets everything done. We never have to tell him to get his school work done.” Linda says her son has grown in other ways, too. The drama program has afforded Austin more responsibilities as he’s moved from ensemble roles to leading character roles. He’s also learned valuable lessons about self-improvement and rejection. “Rejection is very real and what happens in drama. Casting is almost like when you go for a job. Sometimes the role you really want may not be the best role for you,” says Linda.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about you; it’s about the production as a whole. You have to have a team mentality because you’re representing yourself and your school,” adds Austin.
When it comes to representing his school, Austin has done it well. He won the 2019 Dramatic Arts best duo, placed second in the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) Region Literary competition for boy’s quartet, competed
four years in the GHSA One Act Play, and participated in the 2018 Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards.
Off-Stage Accomplishments
Drama is only a part of Austin’s after-school activities. He takes singing lessons every Wednesday, plays tennis and has also played lacrosse. The two-year letterman in dramatic arts and tennis also loves anything related to cars. He spends much of his free time working on his Ford Mustang and adding aftermarket parts. When Austin isn’t performing, practicing, or working on his hobby, he donates his time. He is a member of Enchanting Encounters and visits sick children in the hospital during special times like Halloween. The past three summers, he served as a camp leader at Camp Red Chaos, organizing activities and mentoring children from Pre-K through fifth grade. He’s also volunteered his time at the Ronald McDonald House.
A Solid Foundation
When Austin graduates this May, he plans to attend Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University. He wants to study mechanical engineering and launch a career in the automotive industry. Although he doesn’t plan to continue musical theater in college; he won’t altogether leave performing behind. “I want to continue to sing. It’s something I really enjoy doing.”
Austin’s mother credits his drama background to much of his growth, success and talent. She enjoys watching him take the stage. His father and sister are some of his biggest supporters, too.
When Austin graduates, he will leave a little of himself behind. For eight years, he’s poured his heart and soul into a variety of characters, and he’s blessed audiences with his talents and his passion. When he takes the stage at SCPS for the final time, it will be to accept his diploma. That’s not to say you won’t ever see him perform again—and no matter the role, you can bet it will be a performance like no other.
“If you want to keep getting better, put 100 percent into every performance that you do. It doesn’t matter the role, get into character. Do your best every performance,” says Austin.
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HALEY KIM Making Beautiful Melodies
Story by Katrice Williams | Photos by Michelle Holloway
Life can often be seen as its own remarkable melody. Haley Kim knows that all too well, as she has long been well acquainted with the beautiful sound of music.
Haley relocated to the local area from Washington State some time ago. While pursuing her Master’s Degree in Music at Georgia Southern University (GS), the South Korea native currently teaches voice, piano and violin. Having a personal home studio for lessons certainly offers a wonderful convenience; Haley, too, provides lessons at Downbeat Music Center in Pooler and teaches violin for Bryan County Elementary School’s after-school program. She truly loves inspiring others to adore and master the art that she has loved for so long.
“I want more people to be involved in music and appreciate it, particularly classical music; it’s something really special, and anybody can do it,” she remarked.
What is more, Haley knows that if such an interest is nurtured starting at a young age, over time, the possibilities are endless.
Haley acquired a position as a teaching assistant at GS which afforded her the opportunity to teach undergraduate music students. She really enjoyed it and valued the privilege to gain experience in working with slightly older musicians— an utterly different and exciting dynamic. Haley, who is looking forward to a career in teaching, knows that the experience will prove to be an immense asset.
“It was great. I really enjoy teaching music. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and
skills with others. I want to teach as many students as I can. I’m able to meet so many people with many different stories, and I can tell them my story; it’s all in the process of making music. The same music can sound so different depending on who performs it. Music can contain the story of the performer and express their personality; it’s quite amazing. I think making music is really healthy and helps you become a better person. I want to spread that,” Haley stated.
Haley believes in life-long learning as a way of continuously perfecting one’s skill set. She has been doing just that by taking voice lessons; she also persists to study strings and take private piano lessons from one of her notably gifted professors.
