Holly Connor has always stood out from the crowd. At 2 years old, the age many little ones are just starting to bop along to the beat of a song, Connor could play any tune by ear on the piano. By 3, she was matching notes with perfect pitch. And at 4, she surprised her parents by belting out a Lisa Loeb track with full vibrato. Connor was also born blind, and she was diagnosed with autism as a toddler.
Fast forward to today, and the 20-year-old has over 100 performances under her belt, taking to the stage in plays, musicals, operas, revues, and more. She’s sung the national anthem at a number of sporting events, including a Chicago White Sox game last summer, and she recently sang a selection of songs and accompanied herself on piano at the Missouri History Museum.
“Music is my superpower,” Connor told Nice News, adding: “Performing has always made me very, very happy.”
Part of that superpower is having instant memory, which she describes as the ability to hear something once “and just ‘boom,’ it gets into your head forever.” It’s an attribute that comes into play in multiple areas of her life, including her college career. A sophomore at Webster University in St. Louis, Connor is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and minoring in Spanish — while also learning French, German, and Italian.
“It’s not just music,” her mom, Katie Sears, shared, noting that the recall applies to “math, choreography, essentially anything she hears or learns once.” Sears is her daughter’s full-time support system, acting as her sighted guide at school. Connor reads Braille and has light and movement perception, but requires assistance getting around the campus. Her mom’s taking much more of a back seat this year than last, however.
“Now she has so many friends, I literally just get her in the class and then I just sit outside of it in case they need me,” Sears explained.
Her talents may be plenty, but Connor’s passion for the arts is clearly what drives her. Though her capacity for and connection to music emerged early on, she says she didn’t get bit by the performing bug until age 10. That summer, she attended a camp offering music therapy, and it was there, while singing “Do-Re-Mi” from The Sound of Music, that she realized the stage was the place for her.
After graduation, Connor plans to pursue a career as a guest soloist for symphony orchestras, sitting in with them to play a piano concerto or sing an aria, for example. And she hopes to help others unlock the same joy that she derives through music and self-expression, not only as a role model, but also by working with young people directly.
She currently works part-time for an organization that provides music therapy to individuals with all types of disabilities. “I co-teach,” Connor shared. “I play the piano and I sing various songs and I help them through various activities, like movement. And the kids kind of engage by playing various instruments.”
Her advice for others with big dreams? “Keep doing what you’re doing,” she said. “Follow your path and never give up.”
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