Rising Stars: Meet Maddie Heckler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maddie Heckler.

Hi Maddie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I like to say I started my career in my living room dancing in my Halloween costumes for my grandmother at age four, but I think that’s where my passion for performing started rather than a polished career.

I began ballet and dance lessons shortly after my mom realized that that was all I was doing in the house every afternoon anyway. I was very lucky growing up as far as support. I come from a really big family of artists, teachers, and musicians so I was constantly encouraged to pursue a career in the arts and I’ll always be grateful for that.

Their faith in me is what keeps me going. I’ve always written songs in my bedroom since I was about nine, but in middle and high school I spent most of my time doing musicals and plays. I was convinced that I would only ever want to be a Broadway star.

But once I broke out of suburban Massachusetts and began my BFA in Musical Theatre at Belmont University in pursuit of those dreams, I began to see more of myself in recorded music, and songwriting and haven’t really put down my guitar since.

I have written more songs than I ever thought could, enough for an EP or full debut album, and I’m super excited to get it recorded. So if you’re looking for a new artist to develop or for someone to sing at your mom’s 40th birthday party. I’m willing to start anywhere I can!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not always! I love writing and performing more than anything, but it can often be overwhelming if you don’t take breaks. I have had to learn the hard way that if I don’t take care of myself and step out of my work every once and a while, I can get anxious and I miss out on the other wonderful parts of life that my music and art should organically come from.

I’ve struggled with overthinking and anxiety in the past and occasionally still do, but at the end of the day, music is what keeps me going and keeps me, me! Also, my faith and church community in Nashville are also what resets my mind when days get challenging or the weight of the competition in the industry gets to me. Resting in something greater than myself will always seem to do the trick.

Lastly, since meeting and working with voice teachers and mentors Celeste Simone, Michael Orland, Nancy Allen, and Jo Lynn Burks, I have had such a sense of support that always finds a way to outweigh the doubt and anxiety that comes along with our lives sometimes.

For them, my Belmont musical theatre family, and my real family alike, I am really grateful.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a dancer, actress, singer, musical theatre artist, and songwriter, and I’d say I specialize in storytelling. That can be through my own songs or improving in acting class, or anything really! I believe that these fine arts are just modes of communication, and being honest about what you are portraying to an audience is the most important thing you can do as an artist.

What I’m most proud of this year is making it to the final callback of the Florida Georgia Line Musical May Well All, which was during my freshman year of college. I had such a wonderful audition experience and met really wonderful directors, and choreographers – I even sang for Brian Kelley’s cousin.

Which still blows my mind to this day. I am also really proud to have received a full scholarship to attend Broadway Dreams, a non-profit musical theatre intensive in Nashville this summer under the direction of Annette Tanner, who has been nothing but encouraging. And lastly, I’m so excited to be heading to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at the end of July to attend Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway Bootcamp as an intern.

Kristin has always been a lifelong inspiration for me and to work with her and her camp faculty including, Victoria Shaw, Josh Bryant, and Richard Jay-Alexander this summer is absolutely going to be a dream. I can’t wait to share the music I’ve been writing this year with them and guide a younger generation of musical theatre artists!

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My voice teacher Ms.Celeste Simone of New York has really shaped me into the vocalist I am today. She has been nothing but wonderful to me.

She has brought out the best in me both personally and vocally and has taught me how far my self-discipline can take me as I got callbacks for shows and national tours I never thought I would be able to just in my first year of college. I also want to thank my voice teacher at Belmont, Ms.Jo Lynn Burks.

She has given me such great confidence in where I am, who I am, and where I’m going. She has been nothing but encouraging in my efforts to shift my passions to a real-life career. Big thanks to my family and best friends too!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddiehecklermusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH8Oipx2ztO7RAIwEg8GICg
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@maddieheckler1?_t=8UWu2C99NIk&_r=1