Lorelai Hedgepeth may be a typical fourth grader while walking the halls of North Allegheny’s Hosack Elementary School.
But it’s outside of school where she takes a more untypical path.
At 9 years old, Lorelai is enough of an on-stage regular that she already has a pretty impressive performance dossier, including at venues in New York City and Pittsburgh.
She “Les Mis N’at” with the River City Brass Band and Pittsburgh CLO.
“For Lorelai, performing isn’t just a hobby. It’s a part of who she is. Whether she’s singing in our living room, playing guitar for her grandparents or standing on a stage in Pittsburgh or New York, she pours her whole heart into it,” said her mother, Juliane.
Upcoming shows are scheduled for April 14 at Bethel Park High School and April 16 at Carnegie Music Hall. Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at rivercitybrass.org.
“Les Mis N’at” performances were slated from April 9-16 at area venues and included a performance April 10 at Carson Middle School. Lorelai’s song is “Castle on a Cloud” from “Les Misérables” as the character Little Cosette.
“Lorelai is truly having the time of her life with ‘Les Mis N’at.’ She loves the energy of singing with a live group like the River City Brass Band. She’s found such a special connection in learning to stay in sync with the conductor and the band,” Juliane Hedgepeth said.
Lorelai has been training for four years with Pittsburgh’s CLO Academy in acting, voice and a variety of dance disciplines, her mother said.
The young McCandless resident has traveled to New York City for training with the Broadway Artists Alliance and Broadway Kids Auditions.
She also is a member of her school’s chorus and the Tiger Chorale, ukulele club and orchestra, where she plays violin.
Performing on stage is meaningful to Lorelai.
“I love singing because it’s a way to share happiness. The best part of being on stage is feeling the energy from the audience and bonding with the cast, musicians and crew,” she said.
Her mother noticed her daughter’s talent as young as age 5, when she sang songs from popular movies.
At first, her parents assumed it was just “what little girls do,” but then it started to feel different. She quickly memorized full songs from popular Disney movies such as “Frozen” and “Moana.”
Her “Wicked” songs were especially impressive.
“Many are long and complex, yet she has them fully memorized and seemingly in key,” said Juliane Hedgepeth, referring to the popular Broadway musical.
Once Lorelai was signed up for private voice lessons, her teacher had her sing at a local open mic, where most of the performers were high school students. Without hesitation, she sang Frozen II’s “Show Yourself” and Frozen’s “Let It Go.”
“And we’ve never looked back. Since then, she’s performed all over town at open mics,” Juliane Hedgepeth said.
Lorelai also is a talented guitarist, playing local spots and covering singers such as Ella Langley, Taylor Swift and John Denver, among others. She did a full set for a senior home in McCandless last year, fully memorized, her mother said.
Some past performances include the Pittsburgh CLO’s Shirley Jones Tribute Concert at the Byham Theater in 2024.
She has performed as a soloist at the well-known piano bar and restaurant Don’t Tell Mama, in New York City’s theater district, for its Comeback Cabaret, and a showcase with Broadway Artists Alliance, a professional training school in New York City.
She sang “The Wizard and I” from “Wicked” for the Comeback Cabaret. For the Broadway Artists Alliance, she sang “Tomorrow” from “Annie” and “Monster” from “Disney Frozen: The Broadway Musical.”
As a soloist with Broadway Kids Auditions at Chelsea Table Stage in New York City, she sang “Big and Loud” from “Cats Don’t Dance,” Juliane Hedgepeth said.
Lorelai especially enjoys learning from members of the older CLO Mini Stars and actors of the Pittsburgh CLO, including professionals such as Megan Arnoldy and Matthew Hydzik, both of whom are in “Les Mis N’at,” her mother said.
“For a young performer, having that kind of mentorship while being backed by a world-class brass band has been the wildest experience for her,” she said.
Lorelai’s parents often find her sharing that passion at home, teaching her little brother how to play the ukulele.
While the family can’t predict where Lorelai’s path will take her, it’s clear she loves the stage, singing and playing guitar. They support her, but she pursues her love for performing totally on her on.
“No matter where her path leads as she grows, music and theater will always have a special place in her heart. She has taken this on because she truly loves it,” Juliane Hedgepeth said.