When a person is young, he/she could becomes interested in an activity or subject that can later blossom into a career choice. This very experience happened to Jared Montgomery, a senior at Fraser High School

“When I was very young I was interested in church music, because my father was a pastor, so I was always around music. I didn’t like volunteering or crafting, but I really enjoyed the music part of it. Then going to Fraser, the program is so good; I just got into it,” Montgomery said.

At one point, a flimsy interest started playing a larger part in life. Montgomery was surrounded by music, and it might have been his childhood surroundings that influenced him to like music. Even if you lead a horse to water, you can’t make it drink. In this case, Montgomery did drink the water.

“I think I started playing the piano seriously before I started singing seriously, but that sorta switched so now I sing more seriously than I play,” Montgomery said, “Including the piano, I am a classically trained organist, the violin, the clarinet ‘technically’ but mostly voice.”

There were several children’s programs, including children’s choir, youth choir, and drama club that he participated in. A big reason Montgomery even came to Fraser High School is because of its excellent music program.

“I was in three or four acts and plays for church. I was in Phantom of the Opera; I was Piangi, the big Italian opera singer guy. I was in White Christmas, I was in the quartet. I was in Anything Goes, I was head sailor. Now I’m going to be the King in the King and I,” Montgomery said.

Every day after school Montgomery attends the Fraser Performing Arts Academy to expand his knowledge of music; then, when he returns home, he practices his singing or playing late into the night.

“When I go home I usually just practice till I go to bed, or eat. I think that if you’re a very serious musician that’s usually what they spend all their time doing,” Montgomery said.

After his senior year, Montgomery is planning to go to college to study music. Some colleges that Montgomery hopes to be accepted to are Curtis, Juilliard, and Oberlin, which all have great music programs.

“I will absolutely go into music after high school; I want to go into operatic study. I want to go to either Curtis or Juilliard or Oberlin. We’ll wait and see, I’ll send in my application and we’ll see,” Montgomery said, “I could be an opera singer, an oratorical vocalist, an actor; I could very much be on Broadway.”

As one may see, a childhood influence or interest can flower into a career choice into the adult life. One day, maybe Jared Montgomery will be a name known worldwide for his voice.