A shift from starring in "Grease" on Broadway to pursuing Ethnomusicology studies.
Allie Schulz, a first-year transfer student at UCLA's Herb Alpert School of Music, is making waves in the world of academia after a successful career in Broadway musicals. Born in Michigan and graduating from Interlochen Center for the Arts at the tender age of 18, Schulz moved to Los Angeles to pursue her music dreams.
In the City of Angels, Schulz made a name for herself as a musician, playing shows and releasing records under the artist name LAE. However, her journey did not stop there. After being guided by a LACC counselor, Schulz applied to UCLA with the goal of transferring to the prestigious institution.
Schulz's determination paid off, and she was accepted into UCLA. But her educational path was not straightforward. After graduation, she moved to New York and attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). She then decided to study romance languages at Hunter College in the city.
Her time at UCLA, however, would prove to be pivotal. Schulz, who had always had a passion for music, discovered Ethnomusicology, a field of study that formally acknowledges her expertise and carries enormous credibility.
Schulz's journey did not have to follow a traditional path after high school to finish her degree. She was overwhelmed by the process of gathering college transcripts due to attending multiple colleges, but she persevered. She even had to request a transcript from Argentina, where she had studied for a short time.
Schulz's career in musical theater did not disappear entirely. In fact, it played a role in her academic journey. She was cast in the Broadway musical "Grease" and the national tour of the production, where she understudied Sandy, Patty, and Cha-Cha for the Broadway production before playing Rizzo.
Schulz's education outside of musical theater has reinforced and inspired her ability to make music. She was awarded a fellowship to teach at UCLA Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown, and she appreciates the impact her own education has had on her life.
Schulz's future plans include becoming a teacher. She believes that her experiences in musical theater and her academic pursuits in Ethnomusicology have equipped her with the skills necessary to make a difference in the lives of her students.
Despite the lack of information detailing Schulz's career transition from Broadway to Ethnomusicology at UCLA, it is clear that she is a trailblazer, breaking new ground in the world of academia and inspiring others to follow their dreams, no matter how unconventional the path may be.
[1] Source: Google search results as of 2022-03-29.
In her academic journey, Allie Schulz merged her passion for music with education-and-self-development, as she discovered Ethnomusicology at UCLA, a field that formally acknowledged her expertise and credited her experiences in the music industry. Meanwhile, she continues to pursue entertainment by teaching at UCLA Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools, integrating lifestyle interests with her education.
