For many people, the thought of getting on stage and performing is a nightmare, but for Maddie Gartland, the stage is home. Gartland began her music career playing viola and singing in choir, but she’s moved past orchestral ensembles and onto the center stage as a lead singer.

According to Gartland’s mom, Leigh Gartland, Maddie has always been a singer. Slowly over the years, Leigh saw her skill grow.

“She started singing as soon as she could talk,” Leigh said. “I always say our house was like living in a musical. She gets on stage and it’s almost like a whole other person: she comes to light, she’s got all the confidence in the world.”

Maddie has played for School of Rock, a music classroom in Downtown Kirkwood, for six years. She also has her own riot girl band, The Chainsaw Boyz ´ – which Gartland says is a lot of “angry girl punk music.” 

“I write music as a solo artist, but my favorite part of music is being in bands,” Maddie said. “Being able to just share my voice with people, interact with the audience and let all my energy out [is] a feeling like no other, it’s ethereal.” 

Within School of Rock, Maddie plays with Grace Huber, senior. The two have been friends since preschool, and now perform together.

“We’ve performed a lot together,” Huber said. “It’s fun to make music with friends. She’ll get energetic, and inspire me, we just feed off of each other. Everything she does, she does 100%.”

Maddie is committed to New York University and plans to major in vocal performance with a focus in  contemporary music, her dream school since she was 8 years old. According to Maddie, the news that she got accepted was surreal. In New York she plans to start her music career.

“I would love to be a famous musician — it’s a huge, lofty goal, but it has to happen to someone,” Gartland said. “I just want people to feel as happy and confident as I do performing when they’re listening to my music.”