Young musician cultivates talent

By Gillian Graham
Staff Writer
    
Hattie Simon feels more comfortable singing on stage than talking to a crowd.
That, she said, is why she loves performing gigs, recording songs and studying jazz vocals and piano.
Simon, a 15-year-old Thornton Academy sophomore from Old Orchard Beach, performs frequently at coffee shops, restaurants and events across southern Maine. She performs standards from the Great American Songbook, contemporary jazz and music by alternative artists. She spent last weekend recording a demo at Port Media Recording in Kennebunkport.   
Simon also sings with Musica de Filia Chamber Choir in Portland under the direction of Jaye Churchill. Last December she performed on the WCSH show “207.”
Simon’s interest in singing goes back further than her love for jazz.
“I’ve been singing as long as I can remember,” she said.
Simon began taking piano lessons as a third-grade student and over time, developed an interest in jazz. As her musical interests developed, Simon looked to different mentors for guidance. She first studied piano with Marie Cyr of Biddeford, then jazz piano with Matt Fogg and Tom Snow. She also studied vocals and piano with Rebecca Wing. She began studying vocals with Dave Devoe of Boston after they met at Maine Jazz Camp.  
Simon currently is studying vocals with Brent Lacase of Fryeburg Academy.
“It’s pretty intense because I’m serious about jazz,” she said. “I’ve been getting pretty serious because of all the gigging I do in the Portland area.”
Simon said her interest in the genere developed because her family always listened to jazz around the house. Her late grandmother was a jazz singer who was invited to perform at a club, which her father would not allow because it “wasn’t appropriate,” she said.
“In a way I think she would be proud and happy I’m doing this,” Simon said.
Though she sang frequently in school performances, it wasn’t until eighth grade that she performed alone in public. Since then, she has booked gigs as a solo artist and with bassist Nick Thompson-Brown of Portland. Performances often last several hours.
“I like performing in places I know people will enjoy it and sit back and listen,” she said.
Simon said she is constantly studying theory and technique to improve her jazz skills. She has attended Maine Jazz Camp at University of Maine Farmington for the past three years. The camp allows her to work with other young musicians and professional musicians from outside Maine.  
“I’ve gained so much there,” she said.  “There are a lot of amazing young musicians.”
Over the past few years, Simon has developed a repertoire large enough she doesn’t repeat songs during performances. She also is writing her own songs and draws inspiration from the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Krall and Regina Spektor.
After high school, Simon wants to study jazz performance in college. She said she plans to have two majors “because I feel it’s important for musicians to have a back-up plan.”
For now, she remains focused on improving her skills and performing as often as possible.
“When I’m singing I really do feel what I’m singing. I try to let people know how I’m feeling in a song, but I also want to be really accessible to people as a singer,” she said. “I want to be who the average person would want to listen to.”
Simon posts information about upcoming gigs and recordings of performances on her Facebook page, “Hattie Simon – Vocals and Piano/Jazz and more.”