Maia Hoffman ’24 was an all-around star at George School, deftly juggling AP and IB classes along with athletics. But she also had stars in her eyes: Maia won principal roles in George School’s musical productions during all four of her student years, and sang in the jazz ensemble. She credits the school’s music teachers who support young musicians, often in innovative ways.

“The music program is very robust, with a lot of opportunities for students who want to get involved,” she said. “For any instrument, the music department would find a professional who could give you private lessons. That’s something that is truly a privilege,” she said. 

The once-shy freshman soon found a home on the George School stage. There, she overcame her lack of courage, due to a great extent by the encouragement of Director Maureen (“Mo”) West and Musical Director Dave Nolan.

"Maia’s one of my all-time favorite students,” said Dave. “I also gave her voice lessons for four years. She’s a brilliant vocalist and a phenomenal musician."

The final dress rehearsal (during which there is typically a small audience) for “Something Rotten” was both a confidence and performance game-changer for Maia. To set the scene: It took place during her sophomore year, when she was just beginning to get her footing as a performer. She had been working hard on her solo, “Right Hand Man” — a song that requires enormous swagger, not to mention belting — with Dave. Maia had just returned to campus after having been quarantined due to Covid. Mo quietly took her aside and conveyed a message from the health center: she had to wear a mask on stage that night.

“I freaked out and cried through a couple of masks,” Maia smiled. “Mo put lipstick on a mask for me. It made it more bearable. I went on stage and gave the best performance I could, and I honestly think that it made the song so much better. I just had that much more presence. 

“Then the next night, when I was able to take the mask off, I had all this confidence,” she continued. “I couldn’t have done that without the adults there telling me that would happen. It taught me that obstacles are really opportunities to test yourself and see what you can do. It allowed me to bloom into the person I am today.” 

And today, Maia is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in cognitive science. But she still makes time for music performance, as a member of the all-women a cappella group the Quaker Notes. 

“Elizabeth Banks went to Penn as well, so we think she based the movie ‘Pitch Perfect’ on us a little bit,” said Maia. Last winter, the Quaker Notes opened for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, and this past September, the group sang the national anthem at a Phillies game. 

“At George School, I was able to take vocal lessons that still aid me now,” said Maia. “It’s really been an incredible experience to give back to the community, but also just to have fun and sing.”