Most teenagers have different kinds of dreams. Some want to be surgeons, some want to be influencers, and some just want to be rock stars. In August 2021, senior Zielle Poselero opened a concert with her band at the Brooklyn Bowl. Deep breaths and pacing are key as she performs with high levels of energy; jumps, head-bangs, and screams all included.

Before performing two songs on the behalf of School of Rock, Poselero explored the venue, reminiscing of all the artists who previously shared the stage. 

“The Brooklyn Bowl was one of my dream venues,” Poselero said. “I got there before everyone else to help set up with my drummer and we did a soundcheck for the first time ever. I started the show by jumping off of the risers and singing Deadly Rhythm by the Refused. It was the fanciest stage and I felt so boujee.”

Collaborating with other musicians helps Poselero execute ideas. Seeing a new composition come together with all her bandmates’ instruments, her voice, and lyrics allow her to express her emotions. 

“It’s really cool to experience those other members [of a band] getting your vision and what you want for that song,” Poselero said. “I’m expressing my feelings or trying to make it sound a specific way, and they just get it. My guitarist will come up with something for a specific vibe depending on who I’m inspired by, like Deftones or Nirvana, and they’ll come up with a riff to go off of.” 

From piano in kindergarten to ukelele in fifth grade, Poselero has always been drawn to playing music. 

“I became a lot more passionate about music and singing when I was around 11 years old, but freshman year was when I started to play bass, which I still play now,” Poselero said. “The thing that made me stick to singing was the fact that I got really good at it. The more that I challenged myself and improved my abilities, the more that I loved using my voice.”

After seeing Twenty-One Pilots for her first concert in 2015, the tech and stage presence from the artists astonished Poselero, later signing up for singing lessons. 

“I joined School of Rock sometime in eighth grade, and kept doing it throughout high school,” Poselero said. “You don’t necessarily choose which songs you rehearse, a director will assign a part to you. It wasn’t something I was too passionate about, since it would block my creative freedom. One time when my director assigned me to play bass and sing for ‘My Own Summer (Shove It)’, it was a completely new challenge.” 

Poselero uses songwriting as a creative coping mechanism during stressful times. While writer’s block has detrimentally affected her, taking the proper steps to better herself only inspires her more. 

“For a while, I had been asking my mom to take me to therapy,” Poselero said. “One of the biggest reasons I started to fall out of love with music was because of my mental health and being unmotivated. I felt so drained and exhausted, and had trouble talking to friends. After getting that professional mental help, I started to get inspiration and motivation to write about those things I would break down in therapy.” 

Being on stage gave Poselero the opportunity to channel a different persona that provided a distraction and confidence. 

“At the time, ‘being myself’ meant being reserved,” Poselero said. “I didn’t want to be judged, I didn’t want to be perceived, and I didn’t want to let anyone talk badly about me. When I had low self esteem, being on stage was the thing that gave me confidence when I didn’t have it off stage. While screaming and jumping I could pretend that I actually do this for a living, that I actually made it and I was who I wanted to be.” 

Using School of Rock to network, Poselero met her guitarist through the program. With handfuls of performances already under their belts, improvement and growth is in store. 

“As a bandmate, she’s motivated and talented, and genuinely fun to be around,” guitarist Sophia Newberry said. “She’s always been there for me, and never fails to motivate or inspire me. Zielle has overall grown tremendously. I would love to explore more genres and styles of music with her, which could definitely grow both of our creative skill sets.”

Positive feedback after a performance on Poselero’s stage presence creates new memories everytime she walks off stage. 

“Having my mom or other friends that don’t normally see me play at School of Rock coming out to my shows are the main way they support me,” Poselero said. “Sometimes after a house band performance random people will come up to me, and I’ve even had this little kid ask to take a picture with me. Once when I sang a cover of Miley Cyrus’ song, a vendor’s daughter had given me fanart.”

Like many other performers, being on stage can still be an intimidating idea for Poselero. Pushing through the nervousness and anxiety, she has a distinct stage presence and interaction with the crowd. 

“Even after doing stage performing for a couple years, I’ll get really nervous,” Poselero said. “When I get up [on stage], it becomes totally different. All the nervousness goes away when I get that adrenaline, and I end up having a lot of fun. I’ve never felt that way about any other hobby.”

Looking towards the future, Poselero would be more than happy to continue songwriting and creating music for, fingers crossed, a living.

“Even though I like screaming and the attention it gets from people, I just love being on stage,” Poselero said. “I want to have other people relate to how I felt during hard times, the same way I felt with other artists and their songs. Hopefully in the next couple of years I’m still closely involved with music, and playing with my band at local gigs. It’s something I enjoy, and I don’t want that interest to dissipate.”