Giants In The Sky/ Santa Fe

“Giants in the Sky” holds a very special place in my heart. It was one of the first major songs I ever worked on, back when I played Jack in Cadre Kerr’s production of Into the Woods. That role marked the true beginning of my musical theater journey, and singing it now is my way of reflecting on how far I’ve come—vocally and artistically.

I still remember walking into that audition, struggling to hit a high F. My voice would tighten, and I felt the frustration of not yet having the control or strength I needed. But I kept working. Since then, I’ve grown—not just as a stronger vocalist, but as a more confident and expressive performer.

During this recent performance, though, I ran into a challenge: I couldn’t hear the backing track. The monitors were set too low, which made belting especially difficult because I was mostly hearing my own voice. In the video clips, you might notice some tempo and pitch inconsistencies, which I recognized immediately. In rehearsal, everything was balanced, but if this hadn’t been a live performance, I would have stopped and asked for the track to be adjusted. Still, I pushed through and gave it my all.

“Santa Fe” also played a pivotal role in my love for musical theater. I’ll never forget the first time I saw Newsies, watching Jeremy Jordan take off his newsboy cap and hit that seemingly impossible note. I remember thinking, “Wow… I want to do that.” That moment lit a fire in me. The note seemed like a mountain, but I was determined to climb it. And while it still isn’t perfect, it exists now—which is more than I could say when I first began.

I’m incredibly proud of the progress I’ve made, and even more excited for the challenges ahead. Musical theater has taught me not just how to perform, but how to grow—and I can’t wait to keep pushing myself further.