Finding harmony in music, tech, and creativity at ļֱ
![Grace Higginbotham '26 inside Arthur Zankel Music Center's Grossman Recording Studio, where she recorded her album "ilyf." Grace plans to pursue a career in music and says she has thrived in a ļֱ community that supports her many interests.](/admissions/student-stories/2025/images/0203-Grace-Higginbotham-main2.jpg)
Decision-making has never been my tune. Throughout my life, I have always had a large range of interests that branched all over the place – from music to entrepreneurship to technology – and ultimately led me 2,000+ miles across the country to ļֱ.
Moving from sunny Los Angeles to snowy Saratoga Springs, New York, was certainly an adjustment but also an experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.
At ļֱ, I am presented with — and am encouraged to embrace — the opportunity to pursue all facets of myself: These opportunities have ranged from my vastly different on-campus jobs – one as a back-of-house supervisor at Arthur Zankel Music Center and another as an assistant for ļֱ’s LEDS office, where I assist students using the podcast studios or virtual reality (VR) equipment.
I’ve sung at events like Skidmania, one of our college’s favorite musical traditions. I’ve also performed through the Music Department and flexed my behind-the-scenes creative brain by directing and choreographing numbers in , ļֱ’s musical theater club.
Grace Higginbotham '26 and other members of the band Stevie's Wonders perform “They Won’t Go When I Go” by Stevie Wonder at Skidmania '74 in November 2024.
Singing Stevie Wonder at Skidmania ’74 while simultaneously working the show on the back-of-house tech side as the band wrangler is just one example of the fulfillment I’ve found as I’ve pursued multiple interests on campus.
Far from stretching myself too thin, I’ve discovered that there’s quite a bit of overlap between all these opportunities that have all helped me grow academically and professionally.
Take my experience in LEDS, for example. is ļֱ’s Learning Experience Design and Digital Scholarship Support — a team that helps students and professors use all the latest technology so that teaching and learning at ļֱ are always on the cutting edge.
The skills I fortified in my work as a LEDS assistant helped me to become well-versed in audio technology. I leaned in on these skills while working on my debut album, “,” which I recorded in the Music Department’s Grossman Recording Studio, which I was able to use through the Music Technology courses I took for my music major.
I created a professional for my music before I joined LEDS, but the knowledge that I gained at LEDS and its supportive team have helped me maximize its potential.
![Grace Higginbotham '26 in the recording studio in ļֱ’s Learning Experience Design and Digital Scholarship Support (LEDS), where she works and has learned more about VR than she ever thought possible.](/admissions/student-stories/2025/images/0203-Grace-Higginbotham-LEDS2.jpg)
Grace Higginbotham '26 in the recording studio in ļֱ’s Learning Experience Design and Digital Scholarship Support (LEDS), where she works and has learned more about VR than she ever thought possible.
Exploring new rhythms
I plan to create and perform original music as a singer-songwriter in my career, but I have also found spaces at ļֱ to explore additional skills and interests that will prepare me in a variety of ways for the world after I graduate.
I don’t like feeling boxed in, and ļֱ has encouraged me to take steps outside of my comfort zone. That’s what Creative Thought Matters is all about.
Musically, I’ve auditioned for a small jazz ensemble — an experience that has pushed me as a singer and ultimately expanded my musical interests, both in terms of what I’d like to perform and what I listen to for pleasure.
In terms of extracurricular activities, I’ve found my bandmates who play my original music with me, but I’ve also enjoyed stepping into new roles. I had never imagined myself as president of Off-North but have loved every second of it. This experience has helped me to trust in my ability to lead and immensely grown my project management skills.
I’ve also grown academically. In addition to music, I’ve picked up a dance minor — an interest of mine that I was happy to rediscover. I’m also pursuing a second minor in arts administration and have taken coursework as part of its Entrepreneurial Arts Initiative, all of which are helping me develop leadership and business skills that will help me in the music industry.
My work as a LEDS assistant has further encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, and I’ve learned more about VR than I ever thought possible. Many of my friends have asked about my job there and then ended up recording podcast projects for class or exploring VR.
The more I get involved on ļֱ’s campus, the more I find community and joy. Ultimately, I’ve found a world in which I’m not forced to pick and choose between the things that make me who I am. I get to just be me — and grow and learn.