Although all of the students who will perform in Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s upcoming production of “Once Upon a Mattress” are no doubt talented, one of them can actually say that she has sung on the Kimmel Center stage with the Philadelphia Orchestra and some of the nation's greatest opera singers.

Sarah Shoff, 16, a junior at the school, had a once-in-a-lifetime experience Friday, March 18, at the Kimmel Center in the world premiere of “The Hours,” a production commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra. “The Hours” is a portrayal of three women from three different eras with interwoven stories and narrative strands connected to Virginia Woolf’s novel, “Mrs. Dalloway.” 

Sarah played Virginia Woolf's niece.

“Before the show started, I was so scared I thought I'd throw up,” said Sarah, who lives in Chestnut Hill. “I did not think I was good enough and that I sounded too old, but once we started rehearsals, I was OK.”

She also got a lot of support from her musical friends. 

“When I told them I got the role, they were freaking out,” Sarah said. “They bought tickets in the nosebleed section. It was heartwarming.”

Prestigious children’s choirs from all over the area were invited to send boy and girl members to the Kimmel audition. The initial pool included dozens of members of all the choirs contacted, so for Sarah to be selected was a testimony to her vocal talent.

“I actually worked with Renee Fleming (Grammy winner and Tony nominee) and Kelli O'Hara (Tony winner who recently starred in HBO's 'The Gilded Age'),” Sarah said, “and I spent time with Jennifer Johnson Cano (an operatic mezzo-soprano), who was so nice and sweet, always complimenting us. They were all super-kind. Yannick (Nezet-Seguin, conductor), too. At rehearsals he'd say, 'Where are my angels?' Such a great introduction to that world.”

Sarah, who has been singing in the Pennsylvania Girlchoir since she was 8, was selected to audition on a Sunday in February. Two days later, she learned that she had won the role of Angelica, one of Woolf’s nieces and the only female child in the cast. 

This past summer, Sarah had her first taste of classical singing when she performed in Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” with Opera Box. She has been working with voice coach Paula Rivera of the Cantare School of Voice in Roxborough since January of 2021.

“From the beginning, Sarah's passion for singing and motivation for learning and growing as a singer were evident,” Rivera said. “She is such a hard worker! She has embraced the work on vocal technique without fear and is always ready to challenge herself.

“One of my proudest moments was when, after the performance, one of my singer colleagues who was involved in 'The Hours,' told me that the whole cast was impressed to see how prepared and secure Sarah was with such difficult music,” Rivera said.

Sarah, who has performed pop, a cappella, musical theater, said she sees herself ultimately settling on the classical repertoire. She does plan to go to college for an academic degree, but definitely plans to keep performing. 

“I can't see myself not doing theater,” she said. 

Sarah’s twin sister, Elizabeth, who is also into music, will be in 'Once Upon a Mattress.' Both are active members of SCH Players and Laurelei, the girls’ a cappella group. The boys and girls a cappella groups perform together as The Chamber Singers, so both sisters are in that group, too.

Sarah's mom, Julia, who currently works for Merck pharmaceutical company and shares her daughter’s passion for music, said she knows a little bit about what it feels like to wind up in the spotlight at a young age. 

“I am a pianist, and I was on a piano scholarship at Mount St. Joseph when dinosaurs roamed the earth. In 2004, I performed in the pit with Philly Pops, so Sarah performed on the same stage I performed on in 2004,” Julia said. “I am so proud of her.”

Sarah's father, Stephen, works in the clinical trial research industry. During Sarah’s performance, Julia said, “The whole family was holding hands, trying not to cry.”

“Once Upon a Mattress” will be performed April 28-30 at the Chestnut Hill Academy Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit sch.org. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com