Sidney Gray’s Musical Achievement
Sidney Gray, a senior from Fairhope High School, is gaining national attention for her musical abilities. On May 15, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and the National Fund for the Arts declared her the 2025 national champion of the Musical Theatre Songwriting Challenge aimed at high school students.
This marks her second win in a row, making her the first to achieve two national titles in this contest’s history.
In the coming weeks, she will collaborate with her mentor and a professional production team to refine her winning song, titled “Fall.” Gray is set to head back to New York in June to work alongside Broadway musicians and her mentors.
“Fall” is a romantic ballad from her original musical, Annabaly. The song features a character named Carlos, a teen with ADHD who expresses his feelings for a girl named Nava Lee. He’s obviously in love, yet struggles to articulate those feelings—it’s more complex than just saying, “I love you,” the release mentions. The musical portrays high school life, addressing crucial themes like mental health and acceptance.
This latest triumph adds to Gray’s ever-growing list of accomplishments. Just last month, she was named a semi-finalist in the U.S. Presidential Scholars program, where she stands as one of eight from Alabama awaiting the final selection.
Having attended Fairhope Public Schools since she was a child, Gray is graduating with a 4.37 GPA, along with numerous academic accolades. She has received scholarship offers exceeding $300,000 and plans to further her studies at the UK Institute for Performing Arts, focusing on musical theatre writing.
Throughout her high school journey, Gray has also taken on various leadership roles in the arts. She was the drum major for her school’s marching band, led the Wind Ensemble as the first chair trombone, and served as section leader for the performance ensemble “Encore.” Beyond school, she has performed in significant roles at the Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre in Baldwin County and directed music for over 12 productions. Her contributions were prominently featured at the Junior Theatre Festival in Central Park, New York.
On May 19 at 7 PM, the public will have a chance to hear from Gray and her fellow winners during an interview event. More details can be found on their website.
