Katreena Phillips

Katreena Phillips is a hardworking member of the class of 2025 here at SBRHS who has been involved in the music department for all four years of her high school career. She started out by joining show choir freshman year which led to her becoming vice president and president, junior and senior year respectively. She joined the drama club tech crew on costume crew and as a runner which progressed into her holding the assistant of house position. However, in her senior year of high school she auditioned for the fall play “Radium Girls” and got a supporting lead. During her junior year she joined concert choir which is one of the ensemble electives our school offers. She again progressed to leadership her senior year and was voted concert choir president by her classmates. She also joined Winter Percussion in her junior year which motivated her to join the SBRHS Blue Raider Marching Band and become president the following fall of her senior year. During this time she also had the honor of being elected to be one of four members on the Musictown Court. Her love of music is evident to anyone around her. Katreena’s musical experience here at SBRHS led her to having an internship at Somerset Middle School in which she worked with general music classes grades 6-8 and each of the choirs. Katreena plans on furthering her education at Bridgewater State University to pursue education with a concentration in childhood studies and a minor in music. Let’s hear what Katreena has to say.

How has music influenced your ideals as a person?

A big ideal I have really developed with a growing passion for music is that not everything comes without hard work. Not everyone is naturally good at something. It is truly an activity you have to work hard for and what you put in is what you receive no matter what. That’s an ideal I can truly carry with me throughout my future endeavors.

How have the relationships you’ve gained from school ensembles affected your life?

Music has brought me almost every personal relationship I have in my life from close friends to people who are now my family. I truly would not have my “social circle” that I have today without being in this music program!

What does music mean to you?

This question could get so deep but in a broad sense music is much more than a hobby to me. It is a lifelong source of identity, confidence, and community. Music gave me my voice, a family, and the courage to grow as a leader and discover things about myself that I would never knew otherwise!

How has your involvement in the Music Department motivated you to try new things?

I have the confidence to go for things no matter how scary I think they may be because these music ensembles have forced me to try things outside of my comfort zone that make the big things seem smaller than they are!

How long has music been a part of your life and what has your journey been like?

I danced for 5 years when I was younger. Then I took a break while still doing school choir until I moved to Berkeley. I found so many different passions within the topic “music” at Somerset Berkley and since my freshman year it has been growing and I do not see it stopping any time soon.

What advice would you give an incoming freshman who plans to join one of SBRHS’ music ensembles?

Never be afraid to just be you. You are amazing as you are and you should never feel like you have to change for anyone or anything. If you have to work a little harder than those around you that is ok! You are still just as talented as everyone else!

What are a few of your favorite memories from being involved in the Music Department?

I could share so many but a few of my favorites are during my entire sophomore/junior year of show choir. I cannot pick out just one moment where what I would say is the peak of my show choir experience! I would say my first Winter Percussion comp! Also, getting to conduct my middle school choir kids!

Has music influenced your future plans? If so, how?

I plan to direct a middle school show choir program! As well as continuing a passion for education that was really heightened by my internship here at SB, I plan on getting dual certified in music education and early childhood education to not just be a music teacher but always incorporate music in my future classrooms!

What skills have you gained from your time here as a performing arts student? Will you take any with you to life beyond high school?

There so many things that music has strengthened about myself but a big one is leadership thanks to so many opportunities from those around me. I truly learned what it meant to be a leader and how to lead in a way that is caring to those that you are leading. As well as just being able to gain so much confidence in myself, I also gained a passion to try new things. These are skills that don’t have to be applied just to music but to anything I can imagine doing in life!

How have your experiences proved the importance of music in Public Education?

Music is so important in public schools because it helps the student as a whole not just academically, but socially, emotionally, and mentally! Without music I would not be who I am today. Teaching music within schools to students during my internship has shown me how badly kids need the outlet of music or any arts for that case to thrive academically.

Is there anything else you would like to add or experiences you would like to share?

Just join. Don’t hesitate. Don’t think. Join that new group, try something out of your comfort zone because you never know what can happen!