London Mullarkey
London Mullarkey ‘27 chose to double in art her sophomore year. She takes Acting, For the Love of Singing and performed in the musical.
Mullarkey’s interest in Branson’s singing program began when music teacher Kindra Scharich asked her to take part in the Festival of Arts at Branson. She then joined For the Love of Singing in the fall of her sophomore year.
Returning students may be more familiar with the Chamber Singers class. Mullarkey noted that the name of the course was changed this year. She said that Branson music “wanted to branch out from just chamber singing, and that chamber singing sounds more boring,” which prompted an adjustment this year. The new class, Branson Singers: For the Love of Singing, has attracted double the amount of students.
Mullarkey has also enjoyed her involvement in Branson theater. This month she performed in the fall musical, “The Devil’s Dating Service.”
“It’s fun to see how the show’s are put on. It’s a lot of work put into the shows,” she said.
The musical allowed her to become part of a unique community at Branson within the arts.
“I meet the people I really like through the musicals,” Mullarkey said. “There’s a different kind of connection between people you do the musical with versus people you do sports with.”
Audrey Denham
Audrey Denham ‘26 is a member of Branson’s dance program, which currently focuses on contemporary and hip-hop. She has also performed in the musical.
“[Doing the musical] has been wonderful. Getting to experience what it means to choreograph and what it means to control a dance number is fantastic,” Denham said.
Having danced since the age of 3, Denham is now a competitive ballroom dancer and is even preparing for her teaching degree, building off of her current passion for teaching.
“I want to learn what it means to be a choreographer and a dance teacher in the ballroom world,” she said.
Denham said Branson has guided her in her pursuit of dance by “giving [her] a centerpoint.” She has learned from Alex Escalante, Branson’s dance instructor, and the “amazing group of people that [she] gets to hang out with [in the dance program].”
Denham said that Escalante has been a source of support when working towards her goals. He has assisted in “talking to [professionals], finding names or learning about different studios around me.”
Denham finds that the Branson arts department has “greatly benefitted that area of interest.”
