Special to The Swellesley Report courtesy of the Wellesley High School Bradford and Parents of Performing Students (POPS). This is one in a series of POPS Senior Profiles we’ll be publishing.

The lights dim in the Katherine L. Babson auditorium as the audience settles into their seats. Musicians on stage in long black dresses and suits straighten, waiting for their conductor to signal start. On his right sits Asia Foland, the principal cellist of the high school’s Honors Chamber Orchestra (HCO), her bow poised to burst into sound.

Foland connects with people through her music. In addition to the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, she has played in HCO at the high school. In those four years, she’s made a tremendous impact on the orchestra, her peers, and her mentors. 

“The way she interacts with people makes you feel like you are her closest friend. She’ll remember random things that you’ve mentioned once before,” said Alexandra Lee, another member of the high school’s Honors Chamber Orchestra. 

One of Foland’s biggest musical inspirations was one of her summer camp coaches at New England Conservatory (NEC). 

“I did a summer orchestra camp at the New England Conservatory (NEC), and so I was with a lot of really good cellists. Our coach, Aristides Rivas, was a really good cellist, and he held us to really high standards,” said Foland. “He had us play a mock audition in front of everyone, and I was one of the youngest [cellists] there. I was terrified, but I think it was good to play for people that I admired, and I ended up getting feedback from him. So I would say that being around those musicians was a big inspiration for me, and also having him as a coach.”

Her strong technical and leadership skills establish her as a role model and inspiration. With her musical prowess, Foland is a valuable and reliable member of the high school orchestra.

“If she has a different opinion, I always try to listen to her,” said Sergey Khanukaev, conductor and teacher of the middle and high school orchestras. “I should be prepared better. So I need to go deeper in the music material and to be ready to answer any question.”

“Asia is an inspiration to everyone in the orchestra. She brings her best to class every day and brings suggestions on how we can improve our performance,” said Anish Sankar, violinist in HCO and one of Foland’s peers. “She’s taken more of a leadership role as she’s now the principal cellist. She encourages us to play our best and enjoy orchestra class.”

Foland’s musicality and interpretations bring out her personality and emotion in each piece.

“She uses something called rubato. I believe it’s where you stretch out some notes and make [other] things faster.” Lee said, “Basically, don’t play completely steadily to add emotions, which is important. The piece itself is basic, so she makes it more interesting,” 

Outside of music, Foland is an avid reader, baker, and writer. She as one of the class of 2025’s officers and the club officer of Red Ink, the high school’s literary magazine. For the past three years, she has been learning about and advocating for prisoners’ rights at the Prison Book Program, which welcomes the donation of books to prisons and educates volunteers about the American prisoner system. 

In the fall, Foland will go to Harvard University where she will continue to enjoy cello as a hobby. She hopes continuing her music will help her make friends and keep the music flowing.

“I would say I’m more thinking short term with college right now, I definitely want to keep music in my life in college. I definitely want to join an orchestra and a chamber group. Besides being able to keep that musicality in me, it’s a really good way to meet people on campus and have something in common with them. I don’t think I’m gonna go professional with it. More long term, I would like to keep it as a hobby, because it’s a skill that I’ve spent a lot of time on that I really enjoy. I feel like I would be missing something if I let it go,” said Foland.

Article written by WHS Bradford Co-Features Editor Grace Zhao ’27  and Staff Writer Jacey Weng ’27

Special to The Swellesley Report courtesy of the Wellesley High School Bradford and Parents of Performing Students (POPS). This is one in a series of POPS Senior Profiles we’ll be publishing.

Whether through her passion, perseverance, or infectious optimism, Wellesley High School’s Alexia (Alex) Fischer ’24 brings light and joy into any room. An avid trombone player, Fischer has never failed to push herself to new heights. 

The first time Fischer played the trombone, she fell in love with its sound and has played ever since. But, playing the instrument and diving into the musical world has been as difficult as it is rewarding for Fischer. 

“I’ve learned to persevere when things get tough and stick with things that I’m passionate about, regardless of what others may think,” she said. 

“I’m a huge Doctor Who fan, and I also love the 11th Doctor’s Theme, “I’m The Doctor,” which I suggested that we play in Wind Ensemble and Mr. Scott has taken that up,” Fischer said.

Fischer moved to the U.S. from the U.K. before her sophomore year of high school. During and after the transition, she had to adjust to the differences in the high school’s band, such as performing at school assemblies. In the U.K., Fischer attended an all-girls British preparatory school which lacked robust extracurricular band activities.. On the flip side, she immersed herself in the high school’s Concert Band, Pep Band, town parades, and other local events when she came to Wellesley High.

“[The high school band] was such a huge change,” Fischer said. “When I first moved, I almost dropped out of band because I was shocked at how intense it was.” 

However, Steven Scott, the high school’s band teacher, persuaded her to stay. Scott has been a constant, supportive mentor and teacher since her move.

“Alexia Fischer is an outstanding musician and trombone player in the high school’s Wind Ensemble,” said Scott. “Her strong musicianship and teamwork helps make the trombone section perform with confidence as part of the unified whole of the Ensemble.”

Though Fischer began participating in Concert Band, the non-audition program, she was asked to join the Wind Ensemble junior year by Scott, without needing to audition. 

“It was a bit nerve wracking because I [had] that feeling that maybe I’m not meant to be here because I didn’t put in the work, but I did,” said Fischer. 

In fact, Fischer re-auditioned for the Wind Ensemble going into senior year, since that is a requirement of the Ensemble, and was successfully re-accepted. Now, the Wind Ensemble program gives Fischer the chance to perform and compete at various music festivals and competitions such as MICCA, the Massachusetts Instrumental Choral and Conductors Association. 

Even more impressive is Fischer’s accomplishment in building her presence and leadership in Wind Ensemble, now as a senior intensive. 

“My main goal this year is to promote the celebration of our achievements as a band, whether through meeting after major performances at Truly’s, or creating a MICCA spirit week,” she said.

Throughout her time playing the trombone, Fischer has learned to persevere even when it comes to more meticulous and challenging learning curves. Reading sheet music, for example, and getting rhythms correct have been skills that Fischer works on perfecting. 

“Even seven or eight years later, I’m still having to learn new skills,” she said.

Despite these struggles, Fischer has been able to bring her love for trombone into other facets of her musical life. Encouraged by a close friend, Fischer joined the choral class, Overtones, at the high school. Bitten by the music bug, she auditioned and was accepted into the InChordination Acapella group at the high school this year, and has since been experimenting with singing in the treble clef, rather than the bass clef that is used to play the trombone. Even in the short amount of time she’s been in the group, she’s made considerable progress. 

“I knew she was a wonderful trombone player being in Wind Ensemble and all of that, but she’s become much more confident in her vocal abilities, and also her ability to read treble clef which you don’t as a trombone player,” said Louisa Rossano ’24. 

The dedication Fischer has for music is equally as tangible in her role in InChordination. She brings focus, compassion, and enthusiasm to every performance and practice. 

“She’s very focused and genuinely loves what she’s doing,” said Rossano. “She’s always ready to help you with anything, and is always there to lend a listening ear if anyone has a problem and to give them advice.” 

In a stressful yet incredibly rewarding environment as acapella, Fischer spreads her optimism and work ethic. 

“Performing with your friend on stage is never a bad thing, but performing with Alexia is just so wonderful,” Rossano said.

Fischer’s presence in acapella and band has been just as exciting and fulfilling to her, as it is to those who work with her. Being in a community of like-minded individuals, all moved by their love for music only fuels Fischer’s consistent joy. 

“At the end of the day, that’s what means the most to me, that there are people who I’m able to share that passion with and we can grow together as musicians,” she said. 

Article written by WHS Bradford Editor-in-Chief Paige Ablon ’24 and Staff Writer Caroline Hammel ’24.

Special to The Swellesley Report courtesy of the Wellesley High School Bradford and Parents of Performing Students (POPS). This is one in a series of POPS Senior Profiles we’ll be publishing.

Soprano notes, clear and crisp, soar across the stage. A solo figure stands in the center, arms raised as her powerful voice fills the grand Symphony Hall, heard by a rapt audience of thousands. Her mature voice and advanced vocal technique betrays her age: she is still in high school. 

Singing before an audience is not new to Louisa Rossano ’24. She’s been doing it for nearly her entire life. 

At the early age of seven, singing in her church choir and joining VOICES Boston, a children’s choir, Rossano quickly grew fascinated with singing. 

“I fell in love with how much joy [singing] brings to other people, and how beautiful it is,” Rossano said. “Music brings people together and forms an incredible community.” 

When Rossano was eight, she participated in her first opera as a baby fairy in A Midsummer Nights’ Dream. After that first taste of classical voice, Rossano has been a part of four other operas. She did George Bizet’s Carmen twice, then Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème, then Puccini’s Tosca—all of which were big productions performed in multiple acts. 

“It was really fun learning all the music and hearing all of the opera students working,” Rossano said. “It was very cool to be able to get into that, and [these experiences] really sparked this love for it.”

And so began a flourishing career in singing that extended all the way to high school, where Rossano is now a part of multiple music groups. As a sophomore, she successfully auditioned for Keynotes, a select choir of advanced singers, and Inchordination A Cappella, one of the four a cappella groups at the high school. This year, Rossano is one of the music leaders of Inchordination, as well as an Intensive student in Overtones and Rice Street. 

For all of the different groups she is a part of, Rossano notes one commonality between them: they give her the ability to connect with other people and her audiences.

“It’s really fun when you have a group where you can talk about music and you can talk about other things; you have this mutual understanding,” Rossano said. “Specifically, for Rice Street this year, we’ve been a really fun group. We’ve all gotten to know each other better and have become better friends through our music with how much work we put in.”

During Rice Street rehearsals every red block, fellow singer and music leader Ritvick Abrol ’24 stands close to Rossano in their “arc,” or row, and enjoys the presence she adds to the class. 

“She’s always one of my favorite people to look at,” Abrol said. “Whenever she messes up or I mess up, we always look at each other and smile or laugh a little.”

When asked to describe Rossano, Abrol does not hesitate.

“She is so joyful. That’s the first adjective that comes to mind,” he says. “You can really feel [her joy] in rehearsals. When she approaches music, it’s always with enthusiasm and it’s always with passion.”

Dr. Kevin McDonald, who has taught Rossano for years as her high school choir director, has also witnessed the uplifting effect she has on her classmates. “[She] sets an example for all of our freshman and sophomore students…and her peers also hold her in such mutual respect that she does raise the level of performance around her,” he said.

Rossano’s joy and passion for music extends to her activities outside of school as well. She is involved in the Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses in the Choir of Sopranos and Altos and the audition-only Chamber Choir, sings with various church and community choirs, and takes voice lessons. 

“I personally focus a lot of my time on classical voice, so that’s like opera, Baroque, early-era music, the type of music you would just think of as ‘opera,’” Rossano said. “It fits my voice best and I love singing it.”

Emma Hammond ’24, who sings in the Handel and Haydn Society Youth Chorus with Rossano, finds singing with Louisa inspiring. 

 “Not only does she have an incredible voice, but she also validates those around her and creates a really uplifting atmosphere in general,” Hammond said. “I really admire her confidence.”

Rossano credits part of her success in singing to her participation in non-musical interests (yes, they exist). She has taken German and French, and is currently studying Italian.  

“All the languages definitely help with singing pronunciation,” Rossano says. “A lot of classical music is in English, German, French, or Italian, so it makes the diction a bit easier.”

Rossano is also an avid sailor, which she claims has done a lot to improve her confidence and communication skills by teaching her how to navigate a course and work with her team to win races.

However, not everything in her singing career has been smooth-sailing for Rossano. So far, her biggest challenge has been the time commitment. 

On top of four to five hours of a cappella rehearsal and one to two hours of in-school singing with Overtones and Rice Street per week, Rossano sings another five hours a week with the Handel & Haydn Society and practices for an hour at home.

“There’s a lot I’ve had to sacrifice; I’ve had to prioritize some concerts over others,” Rossano said. 

During the winter concert week last December, Rossano had a concert nearly every day—for both in-school and outside-of-school groups—which was “pretty crazy.” But she shrugged it off.

“Yes, it’s quite a big time commitment,” Rossano said, referring to all her singing activities. “But it’s so worth it.”

Hammond reiterates her dedication to improvement. “[She is] a very supportive, driven, and caring person; Whether it’s about academics, friendships, or just bettering herself as a person, she puts her entire self into whatever she’s working on,” said Hammond. 

Indeed, Rossano’s persistent effort and involvement with music has paid off, leading her to make her mark in the high school’s decorated Choral Department. Her numerous accomplishments include being awarded the WHS Underclassman Choral Award, being selected as a member of the Senior District chorus for two consecutive years, and most recently, performing with the Boston Pops in a show called Video Games Live last June at Symphony Hall, in what Rossano called her “most memorable musical experience at the high school.”

“It was my first professional solo opportunity,” Rossano said.

One day, during practice, Choral Director Dr. McDonald approached her with the opportunity to perform a soprano solo in Korobeiniki (Tetris Opera) for the finale of Act 1 of the show.

McDonald asked Rossano if she can sing the solo in Russian, and unsurprisingly, she said yes. She learned the music, had a zoom call with the team from Video Games Live, and after just one rehearsal on the day of the concert, it was decided: Rossano’s voice would be perfect.

“Performing the challenging Russian solo in a sold-out Symphony Hall with my peers was a life changing experience,” said Rossano, who credits McDonald with pushing her to become a better musician. 

Rossano only had 1.5 weeks to learn the part. In preparation for her performance, she met with her voice coach and relentlessly studied and researched Russian. 

“It was one of most phenomenal undertakings I’ve ever seen a student do here,” said Dr. McDonald.

Music will continue to be a part of Rossano’s foreseeable future, as in her words, she can’t go a day without singing. Next year at Harvard University, Rossano hopes to join an a capella group, or one of the two student-run opera companies on campus. 

Whatever Rossano may pursue next in her singing career and education, there appears to be no doubt that she will give it her all, finishing each endeavor on a high note, to the familiar sound of resounding applause. 

Article written by WHS Bradford ‘s Lily Jin ’24, Arts Editor, and Hannah Lee ’25, Assistant Opinions Editor.