Ella Duangkaew could not be more honored to receive the Emerging Artists Award from the Clifton Foundation. Ella is from Naperville, Illinois, where she began singing and acting at Neuqua Valley High School, nationally recognized for excellence in music education. At Neuqua, she acted in musical productions, was a member of the Varsity Singers and Chamber Singers vocal ensembles, and received the Senior Performing Arts Award. She continues to study voice under Dr. Malinda Haslett at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ella has acted in musical and theater productions with campus theater companies. Credits include: The Wild Party (Quadramics Theatre Company), Taramundal (PenNaatak Theatre Company) and LoveMusik (The Pennsylvania Players). She worked with renowned producer/director Harold Prince in LoveMusik, who served as the production’s mentor.
Ella has also served on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Players for two years as the Alumni Director, Social Chair and Producer of the Fall 2014 production Gypsy. She will graduate from the University of Pennsylvania this May with a degree in Psychology and Music, and looks forward to pursuing a career in the performing arts.