HPHS Student Receives Gold Medal for Vocal Music

Submitted by Highland Park High School

Highland Park High School sophomore Trinity Harris received a Gold Medal in the Contemporary Vocal Music category for the NAACP of Lake County’s ACT-SO competition the weekend of April 25.

The NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics is a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students. ACT-SO includes 29 competitions in STEM, humanities, business, and performing, visual and culinary arts.

“To have won gold the first year I participated—it’s absolutely incredible to me,” Harris said.

ALSO ON PATCH: 2 Highland Park High School Juniors Score A Perfect 36 on ACT

Harris said she originally had planned to sing “Spotlight” as recorded by Jennifer Hudson, but switched to Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” at the suggestion of one of her fellow participants. She began learning the piece at home, and she also worked on it with her vocal teacher. One particularly valuable part of the preparation process for the ACT-SO is that everyone performs in front of all of their fellow participants and receives constructive criticism, she added.

Harris, who sings second soprano with the HPHS Treble Ensemble, will advance to the National competition in Philadelphia during the NAACP National Convention July 11-15.

In addition to competing at Nationals, she will have the opportunity to take workshops with professionals, perform with the National Choir and engage with over 600 African-American youth from across the nation.