My entire life I’ve been a soprano. Singing the high notes and frills being the “frosting” to the choir. Some people would tell me that it was the easiest part, the melody anyone could do it. It bothered me forever, even to the point where I would wish that I could be an alto. (NO worries…that was jr. high. Anything stupid could be considered a good idea…and being an alto isn’t the stupid part…it’s wanting to be something I’m not. ok anyway…) I really could care less these days. I LOVE BEING A SOPRANO. I am also obsessed with BROADWAY MUSICALS and these days belting is the way to go. I LOVE listening to belters…but no matter how hard I try I am not one! I actually got REALLY discouraged for a while, I wanted to sing songs from my favorite musicals Wicked, Throughly Modern Millie, Aida, Little Women and Chess to name a few. I wanted it more than ANYTHING. But not matter how hard I worked, my voice wasn’t made to sing that way. I won’t lie, I’ve shed quite a few tears over it. That may seem lame, but we ALL have passions in life, and when those passions that you feel with every part of your soul can’t be expressed through the songs that made you passionate in the first place, it can get very discouraging. Well, I took this matter to Heavenly Father because it honestly was very hard on me. It was a Saturday night, and I had been trying to belt all afternoon. After many tears and frustrating moments my mother finally spoke up. She said, “Julia, why are you trying to belt when your voice is so rich and beautiful on high soprano songs?” I had to think for a moment, and I said, “because I want to sing songs that express my passion.” Instantly after I said that I felt so dumb…I knew there were soprano pieces in musical theater that are amazing…but just not what “I” wanted to do. Then my mom said, “Julia, have you prayed to be able to belt?” I replied that I had, and then she said exactly what I needed to hear. “Have you ever thought that Heavenly Father doesn’t want you to belt, because he’s given you a different yet equally wonderful talent?” I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS. It rang true to my heart, and in that moment I came to realize that Heavenly Father gave me a beautiful rich soprano voice, not a belters voice, and that was enough. After giving that a lot of thought I turned on my favorite radio show of the week. SHOWTUNES SATURDAY NIGHT! Oh I love Saturday nights for this very reason. That night was especially special because I kid you not. EVERY female solo they played was a classical soprano piece. Beautiful songs from Mary Poppins, 110 in the Shade, Porgy and Bess, Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Showboat, Secret Garden, Guys and Dolls, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, and more. I AM SO LUCKY that I am able to sing beautiful songs from these BRILLIANT musicals. It was such a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. He helped me see His will for my talents, and I realized that there was no sadness in being a high soprano. It is a beautiful gift, and I will never wish for it to change again. I have since learned many songs from these musicals and I’ve loved every moment.
Here are five beautiful songs I’ve learned this past month or so, and they have a special place in my heart. These songs mean so much to me because they share a story and TRUE RAW EMOTION with every note and word. There is no point in singing through theater if you can’t touch hearts and bless lives through every note 
