Katy Teen A Talent Beyond Her Years, Katy Times
''She cried all the way home and kept saying, 'it's over, it's over.' And then she slept in her tutu and full stage makeup,'' said Stacy. ''I knew from that moment on that she loved being on the stage.''
Now 15, Macy Medford still loves the stage, whether it's a performing the lead in her high school musical or taking the spotlight as a singer/songwriter on the fast track to stardom.
Born and raised in Katy, Macy is an advanced honor sophomore student at Seven Lakes High School. She has played leading roles such as Scapino in the Italian play, ''Scapino,'' Iago in ''Alladin,'' Annie in the musical, ''Annie'' and Alice in ''Alice in Wonderland.'' Her latest stage role was the lead in the Seven Lakes High School production of "The Drowsy Chaperone.''
"It was the role of a lifetime," gushed Macy. "I had two solos and a duet."
Macy is an admitted devotee of Broadway musicals. She wakes up every morning listening to Pandora Show Tunes on her radio. But it's her songwriting and singing talent that has Macy on the road to success, starting in November 2011 when she received a Pop Artist of the Year nomination at the LA Music Awards held at the renowned Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood.
Then came the release of Macy's first single, "Just You and Me," which hit international radio in its first week of release and rocketed straight to No. 1 on the Top 40 charts on Tween Pop Radio. It was the first song to ever debut and hit No. 1 the same week.
Macy also released the music video for the single, which can be viewed on YouTube. Next came the release of her first album, "Crazy 'Bout You," by Tate Music Group.
It took her two years to complete the CD, which features eight songs that she co-wrote, along with West Coast producers Jonathan George and Anthony Mazza.
When asked to describe her music style, Macy thought for a moment, then answered, "it's pop-jazz, kind of a combination of [Grammy Award winner] Michael Bublé, [jazz/popartist] Norah Jones and [British singer/songwriter] Duffy."
Macy's voice is soothing and melodic, very pleasing to the ear, but it's her lyrics that sets Macy apart from her contemporaries. The words are smart, thoughtful, positive and playful, and belie the fact that Macy is just finishing up her sophomore year in high school.
Macy's songwriting talents have not gone unnoticed. In addition to her Pop Star of the Year nomination, she is the recent recipient of two more songwriting awards.
In November, she accepted an award from the Dallas Songwriters Association for the song, "Just Me and You," one of the tunes on her CD; and in February, she was named a semifinalist for the same song in the International Songwriting Competition that drew 20,000 entries.
George is duly impressed with the talents of his songwriting partner from Katy.
''Macy is a great writer,'' he said. "Her music is pop infused with jazz vocals that are so unique. You can't help but love her music, and you'll walk away singing her songs.''
If she has a favorite of the eight tunes on her CD, Macy points to three — the title song, "Crazy About You," as well as "Just You and Me" and "Stronger."
She likes "Just You and Me" because it's a "feel-good song that features a ukulele" and "Stronger" because it's all about overcoming challenges.
When she's not performing on stage, Macy likes to read and go snow-skiing. She's also enjoys watching vintage movies.
''I'm a real bookworm, and really enjoy reading anything having to do with the Renaissance, especially the Tudor period," she said, proudly adding that she can name all the English monarchs.
"And I like to read anything by Shakespeare," she said.
Macy also shares her talent with local nonprofits like the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, and has performed at the Rice Harvest Festival. She'll perform Saturday at the Warrenton Feed Store near Round Top, Texas, and on May 11, she'll perform at the Savannah Smiles Fun Run 5K to benefit Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
The talented teen also belongs to the National Charity League's Star Chapter and volunteers for Katy Rocks, Inc., a nonprofit that promotes music education through music lessons, after-school programs, band formations and live performances at places like The Krause Center for at-risk children and the Arc of Katy.
Macy said she is grateful for her God-given talent, and for the support of her family.
''I thank God for giving me my voice,'' she said. ''I thank my Mom for believing I could do anything, and my Daddy, who knows exactly what to say and is always open for a hug. And thanks to my two little brothers (Trey, 13, and Grayson, 9) for making me smile and for being my biggest fans.''
For more information, visit www.MacyMedford.com.