Elizabeth Gaba ’17 advanced through the audition stage of “American Idol” with “All I Ask” by Adele, which premiered on ABC on March 17.

“I was mostly surprised at how genuine and kind all of the other contestants were,” Gaba said. “Everybody sat in the audience for everyone’s performances and cheered everyone on. We all got close because we were together all day, and it was really fun. Being able to perform for Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Gaba received the opportunity to audition for the show after her manager sent videos of her singing to the casting directors.

“I went in and they really liked me and it all just became so exciting and surreal,” Gaba said. “This show has made history and is really a huge part of American culture. So, to be able to be a part of it and experience that first hand was just crazy.”

Gaba began singing lessons when she was seven years old but said she only began enjoying it in fourth grade after performing in her school’s talent show.

“Since then I have been really obsessed and never thought about anything else,” Gaba said.

Before “American Idol,” Gaba sang in ten different a cappella groups, including Flashback, a group consisted of Gaba, Youtuber James Charles, Anthony Gargiula, Zoe Deandrea, Reno Selmser and Noah Davis.
Additionally, she attended A Cappella Academy, a summer program co-founded by Pentatonix member Avi Kaplan, for four years.

Gaba said that because of this summer program, she decided to form an a cappella group at Harvard-Westlake. Gaba also sang in Madrigals and Chamber Singers and participated in the musicals during her time at the school.

“My favorite part about performing is that there are so many different aspects that go into a good performance and being able to move people by telling a story is something that has always been really important to me,” Gaba said. “So, I think [I love] just having the opportunity to share my voice and my story with people.”