This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Ally Ahern (Musical Theatre ‘17) will be the Emcee for Inspire: The Red Carpet Gala. In anticipation of hosting an evening that is incredibly important to The Academy community, Ally took some time to reflect on her Academy years and how they informed her success as a chart-topping songwriter. Read more below!
What's your favorite Academy memory?
My favorite memory from The Academy was doing group vocal warm-ups in musical theatre with Pat Rusk and all my best friends. This was a time when we were often goofing off (poking each other, making funny faces at each other to try and get someone to laugh while singing) but Pat Rusk put up with all our shenanigans, somehow never getting mad and loving us anyway.
What's something you were proud of at The Academy?
I was proud of myself when Randy Duncan told me I was doing a good job in dance class. All Musical Theatre students do dance with the dance majors - and I was convinced I was the worst in the entire school. I always thought everyone saw me as a clumsy mess - but Randy Duncan encouraged me and always had a smile on his face when I looked at him nervously during class.
What's life been like after The Academy?
It’s been both extremely challenging and extremely beautiful. I had two really hard moments in particular where I almost entirely quit my music career and was deep in researching and planning career changes (things that weren’t in the arts at all), and both times a few months later I was saying to my family and friends “WOW I’m SO glad I didn’t quit because then (insert beautiful thing) wouldn’t have happened! Slap me in the face next time I try to quit.”
What are you most looking forward to about being the Emcee for Inspire: The Red Carpet Gala?
I can’t wait to see some of the old Academy staff that I love, and I’m really excited to be contributing to an event that helps The Academy - a place that I believe saved my life in a way. I was teased a lot in school before The Academy for being the quirky girl I am and when I went to The Academy everyone else was just as weird as me (I mean this in the best way). It gave me a place I belonged and thrived for the first time in my life and it did that for a lot of my friends as well - so I’m so excited to be here supporting that mission.
Do you have any advice for a graduating senior?
I could say something like “always be yourself” or “never forget to practice” but you guys are smart and already know all this - so I’ll cut to the chase. Having a career in the arts is not glamorous 95% of the time, so you have to be able to sustain yourself through that 95% to get to the 5% that makes it worth it. For me, this means taking care of my body and mind. I know artists are often night owls but please try to get enough sleep, and I know this one is preached a lot but it is truly a great idea to stay away from substances because you are so much more productive and creative long-term without them. When it comes to taking care of your mind, never be ashamed to say no when you have too much on your plate (my personal motto: “if it’s not a heck yeah, it’s a heck no”), and seek help when you need it (personally, hypnotherapy has been what helped my mental health most). You got this!
Inspire: The Red Carpet Gala will take place at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Follow this link for tickets. The deadline to RSVP is Friday, March 24.