Student Spotlight (Academic Year 2024-25)

---

Dominic is currently in eighth grade at The Langley School, where he is an active member of the chorus and drama groups. His first taste of theatre came about when, at age 5, he was cast as the title role in Flat Stanley, and since then has relished playing parts in various musicals including Rock of Ages, Charlotte’s Web, and You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

As this is Dominic’s first year singing with Peggy McNulty’s Voice Studio, he was delighted to recently place third at an NVMTA sponsored Musical Theatre Competition. Additionally, he is looking forward to participating in the studio’s Spring Recital along with his older brother, who is also a student of Peggy’s.

Aside from voice, Dominic’s other instrument is the piano which he has played for a number of years. Beyond his musical interests, Dominic also enjoys the visual arts, following F1, and meeting new people.  

Philip Knecht is a ninth grader at Langley High School, where he sings in the Concert Choir. He has enjoyed singing since his participation in elementary school choir.

Philip began voice lessons with Peggy during the summer of 2024, and he has been a very conscientious student. He performed in all of the studio workshops this year and in the 2024 winter recital. He will sing in the spring recital on May 18.

In his free time, Philip participates in the martial art Aikido. He enjoys eating sushi and playing with this cats, Commodore and Admiral.

Jude Hassan began voice lessons with Peggy in the fall of 2024. She is an eighth grader at Frost Middle School, where she is an active member of the school’s choir. She was selected to perform in both the 2024 and the 2025 All-Virginia Middle School Choirs.

Jude competed in the Virginia chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (VANATS) student auditions at George Mason University on February 22, receiving third place in the youth division. She performed at our 2024 holiday recital, and on March 15, 2025, she will take part in the classical voice competition sponsored by the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA). 

Outside of her musical pursuits, Jude is passionate about baking, horseback riding, gymnastics, and playing various sports. She loves spending time with family, friends, and her two cats.

Eleanor began voice lessons with Peggy in fall 2023, and during this time she has made excellent progress in developing her lovely soprano voice. She is a sophomore at Langley High School, where she sings with the Chamber Choir.

Eleanor has performed in several student recitals and workshops. In fall 2024, she competed in the Musical Theatre Competition sponsored by the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association (NVMTA). This fall she was also selected to perform in the ensemble of the Langley production of Beauty and the Beast.

Besides participating in the music department at Langley, Eleanor is also a member of the high school’s Color Guard.

Elizabeth (Ellie) is a senior at Langley High School, where she sings with the prestigious Madrigals group. Ellie played the part of Belle in the school’s production of Beauty and the Beast in November 2024, and she was selected to sing in the VMEA Senior Honors Choir last fall. 

This young singer began voice lessons with Peggy in summer 2023. She has performed in several workshops and recitals, and in October 2023 she participated in the NVMTA Musical Theatre Competition. This is the second time this year that Ellie has received the Student Spotlight recognition!

Ellie also plays violin in the Langley High School Orchestra, and she has studied this instrument privately for many years.

Ellie has been admitted to the University of Virginia for fall 2025.

Clelia Benedetti, a senior at Langley High School, has studied voice with Peggy since September. She will attend the College of William and Mary next year, where she will pursue music, art, and psychology with a goal of becoming a music and arts therapist.

Over the past eight years, she has sung a broad range of musical theater and art and folk songs, and she participated in summer musical theater shows. She is a soprano who recently developed a love of classical pieces. This stems in part from her long-time commitment to viola, for which she has played a large classical repertoire. Clelia is a member of the Langley High School Philharmonic Orchestra, and she also participated on the Varsity Swim Team at Langley.

Over the past year, Clelia developed a visual art portfolio of more than 25 pieces that highlight happy memories and life’s most precious moments. She uses pencil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, and gouache, and the pieces created are 2D and 3D, including sculpture.

Anju Advani is a junior at Oakton High School. She has been studying voice for six years and training with Peggy for two. Anju frequently participates in studio workshops, recitals, and competitions sponsored by the Northern Virginia Music Teachers Association. 

This young student has been playing piano for ten years. Throughout the pandemic, Anju taught herself how to play the ukulele. Now she loves to find new ways to accompany her singing.

In addition to singing, Anju has engaged in Kathak (Indian classical dance) for seven years. She has completed her diploma through a regional academy of affiliation with the University of Pune, which has contributed to her enthusiasm for the arts. Outside of her passion for music, she is president of her school’s debate club, women’s empowerment club, and Asian American student association.

Ellie is a senior at Langley High School, where she plays violin in the Langley Philharmonic Orchestra and studies AP music. Last year she participated in the chorus at Langley High School and was selected for All-District Choir. In her sophomore year she played the character Ellie in Langley’s production of Freaky Friday. 

Ellie has performed at our spring voice workshop and the end-of-summer sing. She also sings in her church choir.

This past summer she participated with international students in a conference hosted by “Operation Smile” in Lima, Peru. 

Adora is an 8th grader at The Potomac School in McLean, where she is part of the intermediate school chorus. She began lessons with Peggy in the summer of 2023 upon returning from Stagedoor Manor Theater Camp in New York. During her time at Stagedoor she was cast in her first musical, Singing in the Rain. Recently Adora performed in the musical The Little Mermaid, Jr., through Rock Ridge Performing Arts in Ashburn, Virginia.

In addition to musical theater, Adora enjoys modeling and playing team sports at school, to include basketball and field hockey. She is also an avid golfer, having competed in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship several years in a row.