Andrew Tong – Class of 2020 – {Kellie Rochelle Photography}

Andrew Tong has accomplished a lot during high school. Activities during his four years included drama club, vocal jazz, National Honor Society,  the TriM honor society, the speech team, swimming, and Boy Scouts-where he earned his Eagle rank. Andrew received Varsity Letters in Band, Choir, Speech, Vocal Jazz and Drama.

During high school, he was fortunate to be able to participate in many productions through the drama club.  He starred in Shrek The Musical, Annie, and Mary Poppins to name just a few! I was lucky enough to see Andrew on stage in person for Mary Poppins and I’ve included a few on-stage shots I captured while I was there.

To say he was busy last summer would be an understatement. He was in Germany and France for the Williston High School Student Exchange Program then went on to Pittsburgh, PA, for the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College, where he studied Musical theater and prepared for fall auditions.  While there, he auditioned and was selected for the Pre-Capella group and was able to sing the national anthem with them at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. Thankfully before the chaos of senior year started, we were able to carve out some time to take Andrew’s senior pictures!

This last fall and winter he traveled to auditions for acting and musical theater programs around the US to pursue a position in a BFA (bachelor of fine arts) theater program. The application process was very rigorous, requiring pre-screening auditions in voice, dance, and monologues before being considered for an in-person audition.   He enjoyed the challenge of recording contemporary and classical Broadway musical pieces and monologues.  Some schools required a wildcard video, which can be about anything of interest, and Andrew did his about how to successfully bake a cheesecake.

He was very excited to be accepted to the University of Arizona School of Theater Film and Television to pursue a BFA degree in Theater Production: Professional Actor Training.  In the fall, he will start his training in Tucson, Arizona, where he will join the University of Arizona Wildcats.  He received a generous Distinction Award from the University of Arizona based on his academic merit. Andrew is my go-to when I want to know which Broadway Play to see when I go to NYC, and I’m pretty excited to know I’ll be able to see him performing in college.

Andrew received numerous awards during high school for his talents in choir and band, including the prestigious NDMEA 4 Year Award for All State Music. This honor is given to students who have been selected for All State all four years of their high school music career.  He also received the Williston music department Vocal Jazz Award 2020; and the 2018 National Band Association Outstanding Camper Award at International Music Camp. He has played percussion with the Northwest Honor Band and has also been selected for the UND Honor Choir. In 2019, he was one of two high school musicians from North Dakota to be selected to participate in the National Musical Education Association All National Honor Choir.  He was able to perform pieces in a large choir with an elite group of students from across the United States and this was a very memorable experience. Since the program was held in Orlando, he also had the opportunity to visit Disney World which was a second highlight of the trip.

On top of all his musical and theater talents, Andrew is also an outstanding student. He was the National Honor Society, ND state co-president in 2019-2020. I definitely know that Andrew has a bright future ahead of him, and he will be successful in wherever life takes him from here.  And who knows? Maybe soon I’ll be watching him on Broadway instead of asking him about the best plays to attend!

 

 

 

 

Get to know Andrew with my senior questionnaire-

Name of Senior: Andrew Tong

What do you like to do on the weekends? On the weekends I like to go out with my friends and hang out as well as finishing up any work for the week that I have left over.

What does a typical weekday look like for you? I ususally try to get up around 7 to 8 am and then stretch and eat breakfast. Then I try to get any work done that I need to do for the day as well as some of my daily routines such as piano and vocal work. At night I’ll try to shower and then do my skincare routine and finally finish the day with way too much Netflix and Tik Tok.

Top 3 favorite songs right now: Right now I’d have to say that my favorite three songs are Masterpiece by Jazmine Sullivan, Find an Island by BENEE and Physical by Dua Lipa

Favorite Drink: Sparkling Water

Favorite Snack/Candy? Twix/Flamin Hot Cheetos

Nickname: Don’t really have one but if people use one it’s usually Drew

Favorite Website: Amazon.com

Dream Job: Actor

Biggest accomplishment in school so far: Auditioning and being accepted for the NAFME All National Honor Choir

Unusual talent I have: I’m a certified Scuba Diver

Favorite place on Earth: Kauai, Hawaii

Person I would love to meet: Patti LuPone

Favorite thing in my closet: My purple sweater

Favorite brand: Disney and/or Apple

3 things I can’t live without: My daily planner, my music, and my dog.

Something I always have in my purse/wallet/pocket: Chapstick

Favorite App on my phone: Probably Social Media apps

My hobbies: Baking, cooking, collecting, singing, acting, and film-making.

My friends would describe me as: Persistant, creative, busy, and caring.

What are your plans for after graduation? Right now I am planning on attending the University of Arizona in the fall for Acting!