My raw vocal talent resounded since I first opened my mouth. Despite enduring savage peer bullying and struggling to fit in—perhaps due to, inter alia, growing up a few decades too early for the world and myself to understand my trans*ness—I grew up certain of one fact: my purpose and greatest joy in life was inspiring people and evoking passion in them through my singing voice.

My natural vocal quality and learned abilities to interpret and convey complex human emotions gave me the power to stop people in their tracks whenever I sang. One of my earliest, happiest memories of this consists of my five-year-old self splayed out on an inner tube floating on one of the Finger Lakes singing my little heart out to the entire Phantom of the Opera score. [Yes, the entire score, I had a large range. And don’t worry, my tube was attached to the dock, so although I may have been figuratively getting lost, I couldn’t literally drift away.] Boaters and birdwatchers rowed and hiked from all along the lake to discover the origin of such mellifluous music. Imagine their shock. . . .

[. . .]

From 2008-2010, I attended Berklee College of Music, where I studied vocal performance and music business/management for two years. Unfortunately, in 2009 I caught and suffered from whooping cough and could not stop violently coughing for over six months. This devastated my vocal cords and pursuit of a singing career. I was barely 21 by the end of my last semester; and unprepared to swallow the reality that I would need to forge a new purpose and passion. Read My Journey to Law School to follow my path.

Check out my YouTube channel—Garrick’s Vocal Vault—to hear my voice (the audio treat a.k.a. my first and truest passion).