STUDENT STORIES
Busy Singer, Big Win
Ava Kimmel ’25 performs with a variety of ensembles while completing a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance this year. As a featured soloist with the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, she presents “Exsultate, jubilate,” a motet by Mozart, and sings a role in Westmont’s production of Henry Purcell’s opera “The Fairy Queen.” She also appears with the Westmont Chamber Singers and the College Choir and joins the jazz chorus for the college’s Jazz Ensemble. She seeks an internship working with a youth chorus and young people. “I want to share my love of music with them,” she says. “So many teachers helped me develop my musical talents.”
This activity builds on a busy schedule last year. In April, she finished first in Adults Vocal at a Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation (PASF) competition in Santa Barbara, earning a $6,000 award. She also receives a music scholarship from Westmont. She sang the lead role of Lola in the humorous opera “Gallantry” by Douglas Moore. Touring with the combined orchestra and choir in May, she performed the “Hear Ye, Israel!” solo from Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah.”
Her parents, alums Tim Kimmel ’90 and Becky Paris Kimmel ’91, met at Westmont and married after graduating. Tim works in finance, and Becky is a reading specialist at an elementary school. They live in Seattle, where Ava grew up.
Ava appreciates the musical challenges she’s faced at Westmont, such as performing with an orchestra. She plans to apply to graduate school and study at a conservatory next year.