ABOUT ANNALIESE

Growing up in an automotive family outside of Detroit, Michigan, Annaliese grew up believing they would would be an engineer. Upon their acceptance into the Neuroscience Program at Syracuse University on a Chancellor's Merit Scholarship, Annaliese rerouted their path to pursue science with a minor in Musical Theatre. However, after only a few months of being in the Neuroscience program, Annaliese had a realization while singing alongside the cast recording of Newsies during a biology study session on algae, that they would be happier performing on stage than performing surgery.

 

With hard work, opportunity, and a little luck, Annaliese was accepted as a transfer student to the Boston Conservatory to pursue a B.F.A in Musical Theatre and was awarded a Merit Scholarship for their pursuits at Syracuse. At Boston Conservatory, Annaliese founded BoCo/Berklee's Premiere Tap Dance Showcase-- Tap In! -- which would be invited to perform at the Berklee Performance Center the next year. This sequel performance -- Tapped In! -- would premiere on February, 7, 2023 as the Berklee College of Music's first ever student Tap Showcase and the first Tap Showcase to ever perform at the Berklee Performance Center.

​

When Annaliese wasn't Tap dancing in BoCo's T-102 Tap studio or managing the details of the Tap shows in the early morning, Annaliese wrote music, sang for Berklee ensembles, choreographed for a Berklee film-scoring major, danced for a Boston University music video, and continued training in piano, violin, and guitar.

​

During their senior year, Annaliese received a Berklee Fulbright Nomination for their work and studies into Tap History and was awarded the "Carmen Griggs Student Leader of the Year Award" before walking across the stage to receive a B.F.A in Musical Theatre with a Musical Theatre Dance Emphasis and a Tap Dance Specialization.

 

Seemingly polar opposite interests, Annaliese realized that their love for performance was not so far off from their passion for science. To this day, Annaliese theorizes that Acting is the physical embodiment of Neuroscience and behavioral observation, and encourages all actors to take a psychology course. Looking back, maybe they never changed career paths at all. :)

​

Wishing you love and happiness always, 

​

Annaliese Wilbur

 

Photo by Darnell Bennett