Revisiting your secondary school could seem like a living nightmare for some. But when Cynthia Erivo returned to South London’s La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls’ School, a.k.a. “the place where it all began,” she didn’t just reconnect with her roots, but inspired a brand new generation of aspiring female singers!
This wasn’t just a simple walk-around and reminisce session for Cynthia. After being interviewed by the school’s choir and sharing some life-altering advice with the girls (which we’ll get to later), Cynthia gave the fangirling students the once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing with her. Their song of choice? “For Good,” taken from the Wicked: Part Two soundtrack.
Music Man readers can watch Cynthia sing with her old school choir in the clip above. This magical rendition has already gone viral, amassing over half a million YouTube views within just one week!
One young girl bravely leads this song, as Cynthia smiles brightly and proudly at hearing her voice. As more students begin layering up the piece, Cynthia soon appears on the verge of tears at their pure vocals.
But the star pulls it back together when it’s time to belt her verse, making the schoolgirls gasp with excitement as her Oscar-winning vocals run through the music room. As one girl wipes the tears from her eyes, the choir starts harmonizing with Cynthia, who downplays her stellar voice to give the limelight to the girls. It’s astounding to see a star sing with such humility and adoration for the next generation. But it’s nothing compared to her interview segment!
This clip is fronted by seventeen minutes of chat, with Cynthia reminiscing on her time at La Retraite, flicking through photos of her teenage years spent on the school’s stage, before being told she’s about to surprise the totally unsuspecting school choir.
Once the students’ initial fangirling dims down, Cynthia takes some questions from the aspiring vocalists. Seeing her own teen self in the students’ shoes, every answer Cynthia gives is inspirational, telling the students that success comes from hard work and focus, while revealing her personal journey from adoring musical theatre to starring in the biggest movie musical of the decade.
Then, the most poignant moment of this video occurs. One student tells Cynthia that she’s been applying for different theatre schools, but that her parents prefer that she choose a more academic career route than the performing arts. Asked for her personal advice, Cynthia automatically responds, “Pursue it,” forming an instant, heart-to-heart connection with the young performer. She follows on, “Because what you don’t wanna do is pursue something you don’t love. Do you love drama? Do you love acting? Pursue it.”
It’s one thing for a major celeb to strut into your school. But to glean practical, professional advice from a figure who’s beaten the odds and succeeded is what makes Cynthia a true star. We doubt many A-Listers would dare to be so down to earth as this!
Cynthia Erivo’s return to La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls School has not only warmed hearts but also ignited dreams. This remarkable homecoming, capped by a viral duet, showcases the enduring power of music to inspire and connect generations. For more heart-touching moments and to delve deeper into this story, explore the links below.