Ridgefield High School senior, Pauline Bouissou, the youngest daughter of local restaurateurs Bernard and Sarah Bouissou, will be performing a recital at The Julliard School in NYC on May 2 beginning at 5:00 pm. This young, talented musician is a senior at The Julliard School, Pre-College Division. Miss Bouissou will perform classic pieces from some of the world's greatest composers.
I had the honor of interviewing Pauline about her upcoming concert and her plans for the future.
Take me back to the beginning and tell me how long you have been singing and how it got started
I remember the first day I realized I loved to sing, my sister Madeleine took me to the St. Stephen's children's Church choir when I was about 5 and after that, my parents couldn't get me to shut up. I would sing along with my nanny Fidelma when she sang her gospel songs until I began to get into musical theatre. I would play in the musicals that the Ridgefield Theatre barn as well as the musicals at East Ridge Middle School. Then I stepped back from the musical theater world and stepped into the opera world when I began participating in the Fairfield Young Musicians Festival. From there a dear friend of the family, Arden, told me "you're pretty good at this, you should try it". With my sister Madeleine already in the Juilliard program, I had the crazy idea of auditioning for the pre-college program and to my great surprise, I actually got into the program! Since then. my love of music has only gotten greater.
Who have been some of your biggest musical influences?
I know when you say who are some of your greatest musical influences you're probably expecting me to list off a bunch of famous singers, I don't mean to disappoint, but my greatest musical influences would have to be my sister and my teacher. Madeleine has just been such an inspiration to me with her drive and her musical talent, she's always striving to get better and really she never fails to impress me. Without her push I wouldn't even be in the Julliard program. And as for my teachers, Lorraine and Cynthia, they have really taught me to become the singer and the person I am today. They may be tough on me sometimes, but only because they want me to unlock my full potential. Their musicality is truly an inspiration.
In this recital I will be showcasing songs by various different composers such as Purcell, Händel, Schubert, Gounod and many more, but I guess you'll just have to come and see for yourself!
What's next for Pauline Bouissou? More music?
As much as I would love to end this article off with how I will be going to an amazing conservatory and how excited I am to continue with music, unfortunately, I cannot. As much as I love music, I just don't see myself loving it as much for a career. I'm not saying that I am going to stop singing completely (because for me that'd practically be impossible). I will always love music and keep it with me but for right now, it is going to have to take the back seat.
For more info on Pauline's upcoming recital, please check out the event's Facebook page:
The Julliard School is located at 60 Lincoln Center Plz in New York City. The concert will take place in Paul Hall.