STURBRIDGE – In the original Broadway musical production of Wicked, Elphaba, played by Idina Menzel, vows to fight against the Wizard of Oz and his evil intentions. In the song, Defying Gravity, she sings about living without limits from others.

“And nobody in all of Oz,” Menzel sings as the mezzo-soprano navigates with perfect breath and pitch control. “No wizard that there is or was,” she continues as she paints the notes with heavy, dark tones. In the climatic line, she stretches out the first four words in a lower register to set up her signature ‘belting’ technique. “Is ever going to bring … me … down!” She holds the final three notes a few extra seconds longer as she projects them with power and grace, 

There was just something about Menzel’s force on stage that made a lasting impact on Mai Caslowitz of Sturbridge. “Like lots of theater kids, my first big influences in both singing and performing were the original stars of Wicked,” she said. “I was influenced by Idina Menzel because of her ability to powerfully sing extremely high notes.”

Caslowitz is a young, talented singer in her own right. She is one of only two Pakachoag Music School of Greater Worcester students awarded the school’s prestigious Peggy Kelley Reinburg (PKR) Award for outstanding effort, commitment, and attitude toward her musical craft. The recent Tantasqua Regional High School graduate has been enrolled at Pakachoag for over 10 years. Caslowitz has excelled during her music studies, most notably being selected for the 2021 All Eastern Music Festival Chorus which draws vocalists from across the northeastern United States. 

Although she initially enrolled in Pakachoag’s Suzuki Program as a violin student, in 2018, she switched her focus to private vocal studies under the tutelage of voice instructor Silvia Irving.

“These four years with Mai have been an inspirational journey with a blossoming young artist,” said Irving, who has performed with the Boston Handel and Haydn Society and served as a soloist with the James David Christie’s Ensemble Abendmusik, the Schola Cantorum of the College of the Holy Cross, the Boston Camerata, and the Bach Society of Worcester. She joined the Pakachoag faculty in 2010.

Irving said Caslowitz has been an impressive student with an insatiable thirst for learning the vocal craft. “From the beginning, she has been an exceptionally self-motivated student, always being open to learn, explore and share new ideas and literature.”

Caslowitz said receiving the PKR award has been a privilege. “I’m really honored to receive the PKR Award, especially because of its emphasis on effort, commitment, and attitude. It’s always humbling to be complimented on talent, but it means so much more to be recognized for the passion and hard work that go into many years as a music student.”

In an effort to continue to grow and improve as a singer and artist, Caslowitz said she had to learn the importance of drive and patience. “It often seems like successful artists are incredible simply because they were born with their abilities, but this isn’t the case at all. Talent may have been what started me on my musical journey, but it was all of my time in chorus and music lessons, all of my concerts and theatrical productions, and all of my exposure to the arts over the years that have helped me grow and develop into the artist I am today, and that will continue to mold me for the years to come.”

Along with the powerful singing style of Menzel, Caslowitz said her vocal style has also been influenced by Menzel’s Wicked co-star Kristin Chenoweth, as well as Eva Noblezada. While enjoying them as performers, Caslowitz studies them and understands what makes these three outstanding vocalists good.

“Kristin Chenoweth has a much more classical style to her voice (as opposed to Menzel), but I was very much influenced by the way she wove fun and energetic character choices into her singing,” Caslowitz said. “Eva Noblezada influences me because, like Idina Menzel, she has a very broad and powerful range, but she also incorporates softness and beauty into her singing and brings a lot of vulnerable and passionate character choices into her music.”

Caslowitz admits she does not want to flat-out copy other styles, like the “belting technique” incorporated by Menzel. She said there is a danger of sacrificing her own growth as a unique artist if she chooses to imitate others. “I think in terms of ‘belting,’ it was more about being able to sing as high as I could with as much volume and power as I could. I thought that singing high notes loudly was equivalent to good singing. Since then, I’ve learned the power of softness and volume variation in singing, and I think my style has become richer and more lyrical as opposed to simply strong and loud.

“I’d like to say that I try to incorporate the previously stated qualities of the three artists, but I’m not sure I really know how to classify my own voice,” she said. “I think my voice is still constantly evolving, and I don’t think I’ve really reached a point at which I can fully classify my sound … I always used to consider myself a big belter, but I’ve enjoyed exploring other areas of my voice over the past few years, such as more classical and legit singing, and hope to continue making my style more versatile.”

While professionals like Menzel, Chenoweth, and Noblezada, have been key to motivating Caslowitz to become a better singer, it is her personal relationships with classmates and teachers who have been her biggest inspirations.

“In terms of my personal life, I was inspired throughout elementary school by the girl who played the title character in my production of Annie in 2012,” she said. “Her name is Caroline Conceison, and similarly to Idina Menzel, she inspired me through her powerful and extensive vocal range.” Conceison, a 2015 Tantasqua High School graduate, has gone on to pursue a BFA in Musical Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College. 

Caslowitz credits gaining much knowledge, encouragement, and inspiration from people such as her high school chorus and drama teachers, community theater directors, her piano teacher and acting coach. 

However, it has been Irving, her “wonderful” voice teacher who has truly expanded her understanding to what makes a good singer. “Before studying with Silvia, I really only knew about musical theater-style singing, except for the choral music I did in school. Irving opened her eyes to the classical side of music, while still incorporating aspects of musical theater in order to round out her musical knowledge.

“She’s taught me so much about vocal health, and she answers any random questions I have about music theory, music history, vocal technique, and any other areas of music,” Caslowitz said. “She even sends me various articles related to theater and vocal performance that she thinks will be of interest to me. 

“In lessons, she’s always willing to suggest pieces to work on, but also makes sure to ask me first what I want to work on, which gives me both an independent and guided path to develop on,” she said. “Above all, she’s been a constant source of encouragement, and I’m so grateful for everything she’s provided me with our time together.”

Caslowitz praises the support she gets from family and friends. “I’ve been really lucky to have lots of encouragement and support from friends and family throughout the years … Overall, the response from friends and family has always been very uplifting and has definitely helped me maintain the confidence to follow my dreams.”

In addition to her activities at Pakachoag, Caslowitz takes various dance classes like ballet and theatrical tap, as well as piano lessons. She was also a part of Tantasqua Regional High School’s show choir throughout her junior and senior years.

Caslowitz is currently attending Ryder University pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre. As she moves on through college, “I hope to keep figuring out my own identity as an artist. I hope to figure out what areas of music fit me the best, and which I enjoy the most … I think that my time at Rider will give me the chance to explore myself as a person and as an artist, and will give me the skills to be a successful performer.”

The Reinburg award is named after the Pakachoag school’s second director who strove to instill an appreciation for excellence among all her students. The award is presented annually each spring, but with the pandemic closures last spring, no one was given the honor. This is the first year two recipients for the award were recognized. The other beneficiary is Ksheeraja Ramanujam, a violinist from Shrewsbury who entered her senior year at Shrewsbury High School this fall.