afriendl

At the tender age of 5, Allison Friendly made her performance debut singing Madonna’s “You’ll See” in the First Grade talent show. Initially convinced that she was too young for singing lessons, Allison’s Elementary School music teacher insisted that she wait a few years, but after witnessing Allison’s breakout performance, it became apparent to all that she was a star in the making, and her talent needed to be nurtured and developed immediately. From then on, Allison started rigorous vocal...

At the tender age of 5, Allison Friendly made her performance debut singing Madonna’s “You’ll See” in the First Grade talent show. Initially convinced that she was too young for singing lessons, Allison’s Elementary School music teacher insisted that she wait a few years, but after witnessing Allison’s breakout performance, it became apparent to all that she was a star in the making, and her talent needed to be nurtured and developed immediately. From then on, Allison started rigorous vocal training, studying a variety of genres including Music Theatre, Pop, Jazz and Classical. At age 7, Allison became an active performer in community theatre, scoring a multitude of lead roles in both professional and amateur shows. Allison had a knack for “wowing” audiences with her outstanding stage presence and infectious personality. Thus, in high school, Allison went to NYU for musical theatre training…only to learn one thing: she can’t dance. In pursuit of a unique musical identity despite her lack of dance skills, Allison began writing and recording original music at the age of 15. Through the creative process as an artist, Allison finally discovered herself and uncovered a deep love and appreciation for Jazz As a result, she hauled herself away to New Orleans to pursue both a career and an education. Allison ended up at Tulane University majoring in Vocal Jazz, studying music with many prestigious local artists including Leah Chase and Jesse McBride. Throughout college, Allison was lucky enough to perform with the Tulane Jazz Ensemble and share the stage with outstanding musicians such as Betty Shirley and Delfeayo Marsalis. Presently, Allison is performing and teaching voice, piano, and preschool music at the Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts. Allison brings a fresh edge to jazz, mixing a little soul with pop riffs and original melodies to create a new and exciting sound.