Rising singing and figure skating star Pippa Leigh
Junior Pippa Leigh records her original song at the studio. Courtesy of Pippa Leigh ’15
Courtesy of Pippa Leigh ’15
As a recording artist, an elite figure skater, and a junior at Convent of the Sacred Heart, Pippa Leigh has more to manage than the average teenager. Despite the demanding work load of junior year, this multi-talented girl organizes her time so that she can pursue her passions.
Pippa’s singing career began when she started performing on camera at the age of four. Since then, her family’s Christmas card has consisted of Pippa singing a different Christmas song each year. The first was “All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth.”
Inspired by Broadway singer Samantha Barks and current superstar Ariana Grande, Pippa now covers contemporary songs on her YouTube channel, from “I Miss You,” by Miley Cyrus to “On My Own,” from Les Misérables. For the past 18 months, she has been recording original songs with matching music videos that she posts online.
Her first original single, a tribute to Sandy Hook Elementary School, currently has 1,295 views on YouTube and is available on both Spotify and iTunes. She was inspired to write the song after the shooting took place December 14, 2012.
“I went to Riverside Elementary School which is similar to Sandy Hook, and when I heard about the tragedy, it so emotionally moved me and I needed an output for my emotions,” Pippa said. “A song was a way that I could release the heartbreak of the situation.”
Pippa’s hard work has evidently paid off. She has held roles in off-Broadway musicals, television specials and has even performed at Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center, and Cirque du Soleil’s pre-show.
If recording songs and music videos are not enough to fill up her schedule, Pippa is also an elite figure skater with the United States Figure Skating Association. Pippa wakes up at 5:00 am every day in order to figure skate before school.
Courtesy of Pippa Leigh ’15
Although this may seem excessive given her already busy schedule, these hours are not as rigorous as the four hour daily sessions Pippa attended as a child. She now spends less time in the rink, partially due to figure skating’s high injury rate.
“At the end of the day, you don’t want to push yourself to the point where you’re hurting yourself in the long term,” Pippa said.
Although figure skating has become less of a commitment for this versitile student, balancing singing, schoolwork, and a social life takes meticulous organization. This is second nature to Pippa.
“I have had to manage my singing, figure skating, and schoolwork ever since I’ve been in school, so I’ve always had to juggle all of this,” Pippa said.
Along with studying for her AP Biology test next week and attending her morning figure skating practices, Pippa is also working on promoting her new original song, “Never Again,” and shooting the music video for another original single, “This is That Day,” due for release soon.
– Alice Millerchip, Co-Sports and Health Editor
Pippa’s Website: http://www.pippaleigh.com/
Pippa’s YouTube channels: http://www.youtube.com/user/Pipsterleigh13?feature=watch
http://www.youtube.com/user/pippaleighmusic
