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Robson graduating with on-stage confidence
Glenbrook North High School graduate Allie Robson will attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston to study music. | Ruthie Hauge~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: July 3, 2012 10:51AM
Allie Robson is graduating from Glenbrook North High School with visions of breaking into the highly competitive world of music.
Robson, an 18-year-old Northbrook resident, started performing in musical theater when she was in kindergarten.
“I was so shy, my mom wanted me to break out of my shell. It was during the summer and my first production,” Robson said.
She continued participating in musicals while attending Meadowbrook Elementary School, Northbrook Junior High and Glenbrook North.
“And by the time I got to high school, I was interested in music of all different genres.”
After participating in the fall concert at Glenbrook North as a freshman, Robson heard from upperclassmen that they thought she was really good.
“That was a really big thing for me because I thought my voice was OK, but I never thought people actually thought I was good. I never thought I was good enough be a performer,” Robson said.
“That gave me confidence to try out for more things, and I felt better about myself.”
So Allie became a member of the a cappella group in the school’s show choir, From Out of Nowhere. And she also was chosen to perform a solo during the 29th annual Frank Mantooth Memorial Jazz Festival in February New Trier High School in February.
And soon some were comparing her talents to that of Regina Spektor, a classical and folk-inspired musical artist.
Allie, the daughter of Gail and Scott Robson, began life in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, before the family moved to Northbrook when she was 6.
Neither her mother, vice president of Banner Personnel, or her father, a management analyst at Ion Trading Co., displayed any musical interest.
Neither has her brother, Connor, a freshman at Glenbrook North who is more interested in football, lacrosse and wrestling.
But when Allie became interested in music, she no longer had time for swimming and softball, two past times she previously enjoyed.
“Now, I listen to music a lot, and like being in plays and group interpretations, musicals and variety shows. I play ukulele and piano, though not well. But that’s what college is for,” she added.
She is presently taking voice lessons from Randy Beuscher, who teaches the natural way to sing, which is more conducive to singing jazz and contemporary music, Allie said. That’s different from the way the teachers at Glenbrook North focus on classical sound.
Allie has been accepted at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she plans to double major in music performance and music business so she has a wide variety of career options.
“I love jazz and I think it would be really cool to make music that connects with people. I’m attracted to music that is out of the ordinary and I hope I can eventually make music that I love,” Allie said. “There is nothing better than that.”
