It may have been a spur of the moment decision, but for recent Lake Orion graduate Sam Krumrine, it’s one that is going to change his life.
Krumrine, who graduated last June, attended the Young Americans workshop held earlier this month in Lake Orion. While he was there and after spending time with some of the Young Americans, he made the split decision that he would audition for the group, and found out soon after that he had been selected.
‘I was like, ‘I’m just going to do the workshop, I’ll probably be the oldest person there with a bunch of little kids running around,?? Krumrine said. ‘I didn’t really know what to expect. I started doing it and realized I was having one of the most fun times of my life.?
Krumrine’s singing journey started in sixth grade with the man and his blue suede shoes. He was Elvis in the school’s musical performance of Schoolhouse Rock! From there, he spent seventh and eighth grade in choir, as well as participating in choir as a junior and senior and starring in two of the school’s musicals.
Krumrine also played violin in fifth through seventh grade, and currently plays the guitar.
He said that when he was little he dreamed of being a rock star, but as he got older he knew that music was a love of his and that he wanted to pursue it somehow in his future.
Krumrine will certainly get that chance touring with the Young Americans as they make trips around the world performing and teaching music, dance and theatre arts to youth.
He is looking forward to continuing his pursuit of these arts, as well as the traveling that comes along with Young Americans.
‘That’s one of the most exciting things,? Krumrine said of the traveling, noting that his previous traveling experience is basically limited to the United States and Canada.
Being part of the Young Americans will mean a whole new lifestyle for Krumrine, but he had the best person to ask advice from ? his sister and a fellow Young American Abby Krumrine, a 2005 Lake Orion graduate, who has been touring in Germany for the last couple of years.
‘She did the workshop three or four years ago and that was how she got into it,? Krumrine said of his sister. ‘She was always like, ‘you have to do it if they do it again.? So I was kind of pressured into doing the workshop, but I am really glad that I did it. It was kind of a life-changing thing.?
Krumrine will have to audition for what tour he will be on, but hopes to able to spend some time touring with his sister.
‘That’s what I would want to do most. Be on tour with my sister and some of the people that I just met,? he said.
Along with spending time with Abby and doing some traveling, Krumrine said that he is most looking forward to being around like-minded people. The group frequently holds jam sessions with whatever instruments are lying around, as well as writing songs together.
‘They are all amazing in everything they do,? he added about the group, saying that he is excited to be able to learn more dancing and become a better singer with their help.
He is looking forward to joining up with the group, but is able to make the decision as to when he would like to do this. Since school is important to him, Krumrine and his parents decided that it would be best for him to finish out his school year at Oakland Community College, where he is taking some general education classes and music courses. Before Young Americans, Krumrine planned on spending a year to two years there, and then going to Boston to pursue an education at Berklee College of Music. After his time touring with Young Americans has come and gone, he still plans on pursuing this goal, and thanks his parents for being supportive of him along the way.
‘They are excited,? Krumrine said of his parents. ‘They just say to follow your dreams and do what you want to do.?
The Krumrine family, as well as the Lake Orion community, will have two of their own performing and pursuing their dreams.
‘It seems like an honor,? Krumrine said of representing his community. ‘Who else gets this experience, especially at this time in their life, to be able to be young like this, and then also be able to travel and learn so many new things??
When Krumrine begins his activity in the touring group, he will first be ‘in school? learning music and dance, as well as the various routines. From there, he will perform in a show with the other new Young Americans for the current group, as well as parents and alumni.
He is excited to start the experience and also believes that it may help make him a better person.
‘From what I have seen from my sister and the people that I have met, they just seem like better people,? Krumrine added. ‘All around, they are caring, more respectful and (the experience) just makes people better, it seems.?
For more information about Young Americans, visit online at www.youngamericans.org.