Julie began singing at the age of nine, with a talent show, picked up the guitar at 13, and wrote her first song at 14. She attributes her musical talent to her mother and musical appreciation to her father, both of whom are extremely supportive. In addition to being supportive, Julie’s family also inspires many of her songs. Since she hasn’t experienced much love and romance at this age, Julie’s lyrical focus is on family — taking real life experiences and exaggerating them into very realistic and heart-touching songs.

Other sources of inspiration for Julie’s lyrics come from her friends. She encourages them to share their experiences so that she may create songs based on a variety of themes. And even though she disagrees, Julie’s parents have nicknamed her the “Preying Mantis,” suggesting that she dates guys for a song. Whatever the inspiration, though, Julie many times has to apply a certain amount of imagination, as she did for one of her more recent creations, “Tears in a Jar,” which she was asked to write for PCAR’s (Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape) compilation CD Pulse, about the topic of statutory rape and self esteem.

Now in her sophomore year at Berklee, Julie is expanding upon her original training in classical music. Berklee allows its students Majoring in Professional Music to design their own major, which Julie has designed with emphases on performance and songwriting. Even though songwriting has come easy, she uses this formal training to delve into the use of metaphors and more difficult harmonies. Julie intends to finish school at Berklee with a degree but is flexible enough to realize that, if the right opportunity comes along, she will consider leaving Berklee and pursue her education through tutoring.

“Berklee is a world of its own,” Julie says. “Forty percent of the population is foreign” — an experience with diversity that she wishes everyone could share. With Berklee’s restrictions of not allowing students to play instruments in the comfort of their rooms, the challenge of drawing inspiration from the cold, white walls of practice rooms, and the emotions related to bonding and separating from the friends she makes at school, Julie’s educational experience involves more than just music. As a matter of fact, as Assistant Editor for the school newspaper, Julie is now able to incorporate her second love — photography — into her life at Berklee.

“I want to leave a print on Berklee,” Julie says, and she is well on her way to that aspiration. On November 19th, she will perform two songs in the Singer Showcase at the Berklee Performance Center. With over 60 people auditioned for 9 or 10 slots, Julie says, “It’s a big deal for a vocalist to get it.”

As if she doesn’t have enough of music at school, Julie’s breaks from school are spent at home in Harrisburg doing, what else? Music! Julie’s father keeps her schedule filled with performances at book stores, coffee houses, and taverns. And perform, she does!

It only takes one experience to see that Julie loves to perform. With a microphone to her lips, a guitar in her hands, and an audience in place, Julie closes her eyes and enters some world of her own where she often becomes the character in her song. “Music is meant for the public,” she says. Julie likes to “entertain people” and says it feels good knowing “I’m touching someone.” As a solo performer, Julie enjoys the freedom to dance, the freedom to play with the rhythms, and a chance to get closer to the audience.

Whether she’s touching people, performing, entertaining, or learning, Julie’s always in the music … living and breathing.