BRIDGEPORT – Bridgeport High School is spotlighting one of its talented young singers and musicians.
Years ago, Lydia McConnaughy discovered a passion for music and singing and she sought out opportunities to follow that dream. Most recently Lydia, now a sophomore at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District, was invited to sing the national anthem before the Bulldog basketball team’s Feb. 3 match against Frontier.
Her mother, Nicole McConnaughy, said Lydia is driven to excel. She has performed in leading roles in school plays including last year’s Beetlejuice Jr. She has sung the alma mater at Bridgeport Schools events and sings and acts at Towngate Theatre in Wheeling. She also performed the national anthem at Nailers games at the WesBanco Arena.
Lydia shared a few words as she got ready to sing before the game.
“I do it a lot in my free time and in stuff like this,” she said. “I got into theater around fourth grade.”
She found some early opportunities to stretch her wings in the school choir. She enjoys experimenting with different types of music.
“I like to do pretty much anything. I like to try new stuff with my voice.”
Since starting in Bridgeport Schools in 2022 as a seventh grader, Lydia has taken advantage of the quality music programs and dedicated instructors.
“I’ve gotten a lot of help putting myself out there more,” she said. “We have a lot of talented people that have encouraged me. Some of them have graduated, and they’ve helped me a lot since I’ve came here.”
She said there is no shortage of options for aspiring musicians at Bridgeport Schools.
“It’s overall pretty good. From what I’ve experienced, people are pretty supportive here and since I’ve moved, I’ve overall become more confident in my abilities and improved a lot.”
She is both having fun and applying dedication to her craft. She expanded her repertoire during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdowns gave her an opportunity to practice, and she spent much of her time honing her skills on the guitar and getting reacquainted with piano.
“My strong points right now are just singing and acting, but I’m working on more instruments. I recently got a ukelele,” she said.
Lydia advises other young people with an interest in music to look for opportunities to perform. She said there are many venues out there and many instructors and artists glad to impart knowledge.
“They’ve recommended different musicals for the summer and different performances for youth, so I think that helps. It’s easy for people to get an opportunity if they go out and seek it.”
She said with persistence, they can develop their talent.
“Try to get into the most singing groups, like choir or even outside of school and ask other people about techniques to help you improve, even if it’s just a YouTube video or something.”
Watching and listening to a musical production is also a chance for research that she does not pass up. When tackling a piece she is newer to such as the national anthem, Lydia listens to other performances and keeps the lyrics at hand until the song is second nature.
“I just try to listen to the song that I’m doing and look at the lyrics before I go out.”
Lydia intends to pursue singing and voice acting in some capacity either as a hobby or side career. She is already exploring options and getting tips from professionals.
“I’ve been using online sources to find casting calls or just advice from other singers and actors to help me improve on areas I’m not that strong in.”
