Ainslee Santa Croce was chosen as the musician of the quarter! Ainslee is heavily involved in the Nazareth Music Department. She serves as the Tri-M Music Honor Society president, she is a music major, and she sings in the Chorus, Chorale, and the a cappella choir, “Panda”monium. As a senior, Ainslee is in her fourth year of music theory classes, currently taking AP Music 4. In addition to music at Nazareth, Ainslee is a member of the All-Catholic Chorus and sings at her parish, St. Andrew’s.

Ainslee says her interest in music started in second grade when she joined the choir at her church. In sixth grade, she became a member of the Archdiocesan Choir of Philadelphia. As a member of this choir, Ainslee sang at Sunday Mass at the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, also known as the mother church of the Archdioceses of Philadelphia. Ainslee was even selected to sing a solo at the Basilica, and says she was honored to have had been chosen for this experience. She started voice lessons in eighth grade, and currently takes lessons with Ms. Chmelko. Ainslee also started piano lessons when she came to Nazareth and currently studies with Mrs. Clark, our school’s accompanist.

Another fun fact about Ainslee is that she has sung at the Vatican in Rome three times! The first two times she sang with the Archdiocesan Choir of Philadelphia, and the second was with the Nazareth Academy Chorale this past February. Ainslee takes Italian classes at Nazareth, and says she especially loves traveling to Italy to be immersed in the rich culture and Italian history. Her favorite memory from her trips to Italy are visiting the Colosseum and the Catacombs for the first time.

Although she takes lessons in classical music, Ainslee has always had a love for musical theater. She’s been a part of productions at both Nazareth and Holy Ghost since her freshman year and says she really hopes we’re able to put on a musical in the fall, because she misses performing in front of an audience. Her favorite role was Rosie in last year’s production of Mamma Mia!

Ainslee plans to continue music in college as a Music Business major. She also wants to continue singing in a choir in college and throughout her life. She’s extremely thankful for all that music has done for her, saying she loves “storytelling through music.” Ainslee says, “I can’t wait until we’re all able to sing together again. My favorite feeling is singing in a choir surrounded by friends.” She’s grateful for the friendships and new experiences singing has brought her and can’t image her life without music.

This article originally appeared in the December 2020 edition of The Nazareth, Volume XCIII, No. 2.