One musically inclined student plans to make her voice heard in many different ways.
Music sophomore Madalyn McHugh recently lent her voice to Saginaw Valley State University’s holiday video with her reimagined version of “Deck the Halls,” for which she also played guitar.
McHugh has been singing, writing and performing long before she got this break, however. A native of Caro, Michigan, McHugh has been singing since the age of 7, often performing with her father in church.
Vanguard photo | Landon Defever
Music sophomore Madalyn McHugh recently sang and performed for SVSU’s annual holiday video, is on the university’s Facebook.
“I loved it so much that I started auditioning for any competition I could find. Ever since I can remember, my life has been about music and performing.”
At the age of 12, she performed with her father and brother in a Christian family band, taking her all over different churches in the state of Michigan, and as far as Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee. One of McHugh’s fondest memories was opening for Christian act Sidewalk Prophets in Port Huron.
When asked what her favorite aspect of the musical process is, McHugh said she loves performing.
“I truly believe performing molds you into a better musician. I love being on a stage in front of people, and the feeling of being able to shine in front of people, showing them what you’ve created.”
McHugh was homeschooled through 10th grade and from 7th-10th, she was in a lot of high school plays and theater. She went to Caro High School for her junior and senior year, where she took voice lessons, was in the high school choir and picked up acoustic guitar.
Graduating in 2011, McHugh would spend the next two years traveling around the Midwest, touring with her own CD that she wrote and recorded in Nashville. It wasn’t until last year that she decided to attend Saginaw Valley State University.
“SVSU seemed like the best university to attend in order to become the best musician I could be. I applied to the music department, not planning on staying for long, but after a while, I found myself wanting to take more lessons and learn more about the background and theory of music, so I’m pursuing my bachelor’s.”
McHugh quickly took a liking to classical music when she started at SVSU, particularly classical artist Jesse Norman, as well as many different country artists.
“I love Taylor Swift and everything she stands for; everything she puts out is great. From a vocal standpoint, I love Carrie Underwood, too. Everything I study here at SVSU, however, I have to listen to [Norman] sing it first.”
In addition to her studies, McHugh is actively involved in Cardinal Singers, and participated in the SVSU Theatre department’s production of “The Grapes of Wrath.”
Though her future is still on the horizon, McHugh already has ideas for what she wants to do once she has her bachelor’s in music: More specifically, she’s headed for the city.
“I was also accepted to the Berkeley School of Music in Boston, but I ultimately decided to come here. I may head there for graduate school, but for now, I just want to perform wherever I can.”
