ne need only to venture down I hallway to hear the vocals of sophomore Katy Campanaro, although she is modest about it.

“I’m that typical choir kid,” she said. “When people see me, they probably think, ‘Oh that’s Katy; she’s in choir.’”

However, Campanaro’s father and history teacher Mr. Dan Campanaro said he noticed his daughter’s artistic talents at a young age.

“She has always been a creative person since she was a kid,” he said. “She has always preferred projects where she could create things.”

For this self-proclaimed “typical choir kid,” Campanaro said she believes a high point in her life was playing Dorothy in the middle school production of The Wizard of Oz.

“It gave me a ton of confidence,” she said. “It made me realize that it was okay to just be myself.”

Her father said he believes Campanaro’s willingness to try new things is what makes her unique, adding she even inspired him as a teacher.

“She was so good at it that I was inspired to try to not take my job for granted, and to try and inspire my students,” Campanaro said.

For her inspiration of the arts, Campanaro credits her mother, who was also involved in music and theater.

“She encouraged me in music, but never pushed me into it,” Campanaro said. “It kind of became my ‘thing’ as well as hers.”

Campanaro made the select choir, Hi Lo’s, this year — a rarity for a sophomore.

“I wasn’t even sure I’d make [it],” she said. “I was really excited because it is ‘the’ select choir.”

Choir director Mr. Kim Jacoby said he is impressed by Campanaro’s talent.

“I put kids in a position to make them succeed,” he said. “I think that she has a great start at achieving some of her goals.”

Campanaro said she takes the steps to improve her voice.

“I take vocal lessons, and I try to learn my lines pretty fast to help perfect my character,” she said. “I really practice all the time at home to learn my part.”

In addition to music, she is also involved  in academic, community and athletic organizations, including Teen Institute and  her church youth group.

Campanaro, a former cross country athlete, was forced to quit due to injury.

“Most people don’t think it would be a big thing, but it was really hard for me,” she said.

However, Dan Campanaro said she approaches hardship with a positive attitude.

“When things don’t go her way, she can move on pretty quickly,” he said.

Canpanaro said she really enjoys being involved with different activities at Hoover.

“I love coming to school,” she said. “It is really weird, but I really like it.” 

In ten years, Campanaro said she sees her career in a field other than music.

“I want to get into broadcast,” she said. “Music will always be a big part of my life, but not my career.”

Speech and broadcast teacher Mrs. Jennifer Manion had Campanaro in class last year.

“She is a great performer and has a wonderful voice, but she is also incredibly hardworking and good-natured,” she said.

Manion added she enjoys Katy’s presence in the audience in addition to her time spent on the stage.

“She was the best audience member because she smiled, laughed and enjoyed her classmates’ presentations,” she said.

Manion said Campanaro’s presence on stage is something to anticipate.

“I looked forward to her presentations to see what she had prepared for us and was hardly ever disappointed,” she said. “That smile that people see on her face is genuine, and that is what I enjoy about her.” 