Naomi Almog is a senior at ASIJ, known throughout the high school for her musical talent. She has been singing in choirs since elementary school and joined ASIJ as a sophomore in 2021. At school, she is a prominent member of the choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and often performs songs in the courtyard. In her most recent performance at the ASIJ choir concert, she sang a solo during the song “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys.?
How has your background affected your musical personality?
“Growing up in Israel, I was always listening to a lot of Israeli music, which is really different from anything else in the world. It’s the basis of my interest in music, and it built my perspective on music and the way I understand songs.”
Do you have any musical artists you look up to?
“Yes, I have a lot. One of them is Billie Eilish because she started from a really young age and got famous really quickly, and you can really see the growth in her singing, music, and voice. She also has incredibly meaningful lyrics. Another one is Frank Ocean. I really love his music. His music is so special, it’s not like the music we have today, you know? I also enjoy old music and jazzy artists like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.?
What do you think about the musical scene here at ASIJ?
“There are definitely a lot more opportunities than there were in previous years, and we’re developing more of a [musical] community here, but a lot of the time music is still looked down upon—especially because there is a tendency here to judge.”
Singing in particular?
“Singing, yes, but anything really. There is a lot of effort put into making musicals and other music performances but people just don’t come to watch those like they would, for example, a soccer game. I just think we need to build even more of a community around music.”
Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring singers and musicians?
“I would say don’t be scared of being judged, because whatever you do, people will judge you at the end of the day. But if you enjoy what you’re doing, that’s all that really matters. I was scared to join the musical, and now I think I’m gonna do it, ‘cause who really cares? Just do what you want. Go for solos. Go for any and all opportunities that will allow you to reach your full potential.”
