Brooke Buckaway

Staff Writer

As the accompanist vigorously taps on the piano keys, Pauline Tamale, 22, music major, feels the rush of adrenaline as her voice matches the pitch of the piano and her vocal chords rise to the occasion.

For Tamale, music is a way of life, but the vocalist started out on a very different path, she said.

“I started out studying English and wanted to be an ESL teacher,” Tamale said. “I come from a very musical family and my dad was always pushing me to pursue music.”

Tamale, who spent her childhood on the island of Tonga in the Pacific Islands, grew up singing choir music but never imagined that a music career was in her future.

She started college majoring in English but was taking two music courses and quickly realized that singing was her true calling in life and decided to change her major.

“Those two classes reflected my passion and I remember thinking ‘this is what I want to do,’” Tamale said.

Tamale has been studying music for 2 years and in that time has impressed her professors with her passion, drive, and willingness to learn, Vicki Muto, adjunct music lecturer, said.

“I was substituting for a professor the first time I heard Tamale sing,” Muto said. “Her voice is beautifully clear and resonate and has a beautiful color quality.”

Kenner Bailey, piano accompanist, said that he was also impressed by Tamale’s musical skills.

“She is really wonderful as a vocalist,” Baileysaid. “You either have it or you don’t and it’s not something that you can make happen, and Tamale has a beautiful voice.”

Along with taking applied music classes, Tamale who was selected to perform in a master class run by Gary Glaze, the head of the University of Southern California’s voice department.

Of the 15 students who auditioned to participate in the master class, Tamale was one of only four students selected.

“Professor Glaze is very knowledgeable as a professor and performer and Tamale was able to use all the knowledge that he gave her,” Muto said.

During the master class, Tamale received vital criticism and was given tips as to how to perform to her full capacity, she said.

“That had been my biggest accomplishment to date,” Tamale said. “I can’t thank God enough for that experience. It gave me something to work toward and work beyond.”

In the future, Tamale said she hopes to attend  USC and be a part of their music program but is also planning to apply to several conservatories as well.

“This is not the start of my musical career but it is not the end,” Tamale said. “I am still studying and am always learning.”

Muto said he is confident that Tamale has the necessary characteristics to make it in the competitive field of classical music.

“She is very organized and enjoys the process of learning,” Muto said.

Muto said that each piece of music must be broken down in order to perform it to the fullest potential and said that Tamale shows an eagerness and desire to go the extra mile during the process.

“I honestly love anything to do with music, but singing opera is my favorite,” Tamale said. “I hope to one day reach the level of performance to be able to sing with an orchestra.”