Freshman Caroline Dold expresses herself in music and art

rock & dold

Freshman Caroline Dold embraces the arts by performing with her band and exploring the possibilities of animation and design.

BY EMMA HUTCHIN PHOTO EDITOR

As she stood center-stage ready to press down on the keys, Dold says her biggest supporters are her friends and family who have freshman Caroline Dold took in the bright lights. The feel of that stuck by her side since the beginning. She believes that one day she may moment helped her decide that this was what she was going to do for want to pursue a career in the arts, and her family is excited to see where the rest of her life. The soft tap of her foot and the butterflies in her stomach her passion takes her. There isn’t anyone else she can trust as much to be by readied her for the next song. her side through it all, according to Dold.

“Being on stage is one thing that I love most in life,” Dold said. “I’m “I’m going to admit that at first, I was skeptical,” Dold’s mother, Rachel really comfortable in front of people. I like the nervousness. It Dold, said. “Was there really a band, or was rehearsal just code for hanging gives me energy.” out with friends? A few gigs in and my feelings have changed. I’m glad

Dold is a vocalist and piano player for her band, Zero Below. On her Caroline has this creative outlet.” shadow day last year, after reading a feature story in Le Journal about Pursuing a career in the arts is something Dold has dreamt of since junior Anna McQueeny and her band, The Whips, she sixth grade, and, as of now, she believes she wants to go into reached out to her childhood friend Rockhurst High School animation. However, she still secretly wants to become a freshman Luke Crawford. “After Caroline joined the group, our performances improved a lot,” Crawford said. “She does an amazing job “THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT rock star. “I know Caroline would love to eventually make a living in a creative field and I hope that happens for her,” keeping what makes the originals great while also adding a MUSIC THAT TELLS Rachel said. “Her dad and I often remind her that even if it new aspect to the vocals that keep the songs interesting.” STORIES BETTER THAN doesn’t happen, she can still pursue her passions. That’s one

The alternative-rock band covers songs from Jack WORDS DO.” of the many beautiful things about the arts. I hope that she White bands such as The White Stripes, The Raconteurs will always sing and play and express herself whether that and The Dead Weather. ‘I Don’t Care’ by Fall Out Boy is the - FRESHMAN CAROLINE DOLD be professionally or within the community.” go-to opener for most of their performances, and the group Being on stage with Crawford and guitarist Pembroke is working on some original music, according to Dold. Hill School freshman Robert Allmon is unlike anything

“We have a lot of originals, but we haven’t performed Dold has ever experienced. To her, there is something many of them yet,” Dold said. “I think we’re going to try to put more of special about music and she believes her drawings and lyrics speak better them in our future set lists.” than words.

A member of the Petite Choeur, Dold thrives through her music. She “Caroline has always been a very talented musician, and from a very has been playing piano for eight years and has been singing with the Stage young age she’s been excellent on the piano,” Crawford said. “She’s the most Right show choir for four years. Apart from just performing with her band, experienced of us all and has a knack for wearing her influences on her Dold is also a theatre performer with Kansas City Young Audiences, a sleeve while also turning the music into her own.” provider of arts education programs in and around the Kansas City metro. Flashing back to the first moment Dold took the stage in fourth grade, Their mission is to promote creativity and inspire success while offering she recalls the time as monumental for her. It was in that moment, eyes on equal opportunity to all children. her, she felt at home.

“There’s something about music that tells stories better than words do,” “I think everyone needs a way to really be themselves and be Dold said. “You could speak the lyrics to a song, but once you hear it set to expressive,” Dold said. “Whether you mean to or not, everyone listens to music, it becomes moving in a way that I don’t think any other art speaks to music. Everyone sees a form of art. It’s important to go around and create me. I’m an artist.” things for the world. Be creative. It’s good for you.”

DABBLING IN DESIGN

Offstage, Dold spends her time sketching and practicing animation. She uses her artwork as an expressive outlet and since sixth grade has dreamed of becoming an animator. “I’ve been drawing since sixth grade,” Dold said. “It’s something that I really love to do. It’s helpful with stress relief and there are so many different ways to get involved.” (Photos submitted by Caroline Dold)