Alumna Brings Her Talents to The Voice
by Cathryn Larsen
The Potomac School helps young learners become disciplined, passionate, and innovative adults – many of whom take their talents to the world stage. Claudia Swope ’17 is one such alum; with passion and persistence, she is making her dream of life as a performer come true. This year, as a contestant on season 24 of the hit television show The Voice, Claudia was featured on one of the biggest stages of all.
On the show, vocalists “blind audition” for an all-star panel; this season’s judges were John Legend, Gwen Stefani, Niall Horan, and Reba McEntire. Contestants give their all to be selected for musical mentorship on one of the judges’ teams. Claudia, known as “Claudia B.” on stage, advanced to the fourth round this season – the final step before The Voice live shows where the remaining contestants compete.
Claudia’s journey as a Voice contestant involved appearing in four episodes and working on the teams of two celebrity judges – John Legend and Niall Horan. Displaying her musical mastery and smooth, soulful style, Claudia performed covers of Norah Jones, Bruno Mars, and Michael Jackson songs. In the knockout round of the contest, Claudia’s heartfelt version of Norah Jones’ hit “Don’t Know Why” earned her a save from her mentor Niall Horan, keeping her on the show into the next round.
“The Voice was like a summer camp for singers,” Claudia says. “All the contestants were so supportive of each other – there wasn’t any drama like you might think there would be! I learned so much from my fellow contestants and made amazing friends. And being able to work with the judges and just even be in the same room as John Legend, whose songs I remember listening to and playing by myself in the practice rooms at Potomac, was so surreal. It was an affirming, positive experience that helped to elevate my career.”
Claudia attributes her vocal style to the various musical experiences that lit her path to this moment. She says, “There’s not a lot of music that I’m not inspired by. Growing up, I was introduced to an eclectic mix. I listened to Abba with my parents on road trips, pop and R&B radio stations, and musical theater recordings. Then, as a student at Berklee, I was brought into the jazz world and really began to delve into that.”
A lifer whose parents both worked at Potomac, Claudia found her first footing in the music world at school. The young singer-songwriter recounts living on campus in faculty housing, walking to school with her mom and dad, and from a young age, diving into all things creative. She reflects, “Music has always been a fundamental piece of who I am. I sang in our church choir. I took piano lessons, and I worked as much music as possible into my Potomac experience.” As an Upper School student, Claudia was enrolled in the selective Visual and Performing Arts Concentration (VPAC) program and “took every class Jerry Rich had to offer.” Throughout her Potomac career, she took voice, piano, and clarinet lessons; participated in band and choir at every level; sang with Madrigals and various a capella groups; performed in Upper School musicals and at student coffee houses; and was a featured guest performer at campus events like the Book Fair and Alumni Reunion receptions. Claudia observes, “All of these moments helped build my musical experience and confidence.”
In eleventh grade, Claudia took a somewhat unusual path, choosing to graduate high school a year early to accept admission to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. There, she studied voice, piano, professional musicianship, music business, and music technology. She says, “I always wanted to do some combination of songwriting, piano, and singing. After attending a summer program at Berklee, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. With the support of my parents and Potomac, I was able to graduate early and enroll there during what would have been my senior year.” She adds, “My experience at Berklee definitely solidified my desire to pursue a place in this field and helped me to mature in my craft – vocally, instrumentally, and professionally.”
Sharpening her skills while pushing on through the “no’s” is something Claudia is familiar with. She recounts, “I first tried out for The Voice in high school but wasn’t selected. I tried again a few years later and also didn’t make it. In a way, I’m glad that I didn’t get selected then because I don’t think I was ready. Patience and persistence led me to keep auditioning, and all that time I was practicing and working to create the sound I have now. And I realize that I still have plenty of learning and growth ahead.”
She adds, “While on The Voice, some of the best advice I got from the judges was to lean into the storytelling aspect of the music, to not let the human qualities of a song be outshone by a focus on performance or perfectionism. Niall told me to remember that what touches people isn’t big voices or musical frills – it’s the meaning and heart behind the song, brought to life by the authenticity of the singer. That’s what really reaches people.”
These days, Claudia makes her home in Nashville, a city she was first introduced to on a Potomac Madrigals trip. She says, “I have found that everyone in this music community is open and willing to provide guidance and resources. Collaboration and co-writing are huge here. Finding my niche has been a little challenging; I’ve had to dig deeper to define my place in the Nashville music scene, but it’s worked out really well. People tend to be intrigued when I show up sitting behind the piano, as it’s not what you typically see in this town. It has provided an opportunity for me to add something a little different to the scene.”
Claudia is working on an EP that will debut in spring 2024. Reflecting on her career so far, she encourages aspiring musicians to “focus on your own original sound and trust your intuition.” She concludes, “A simple phrase that has given me encouragement and gotten me through a lot of ups and downs is ‘Why not?’ I would encourage not only young musicians but anyone starting out in the world to carry those words with them. Why not go after your dream? Why not trust your gut? Why not be original? Carry the ‘why not’ with you and don’t be afraid to keep putting yourself out there, learning, and growing.”
Go to Claudia's website to learn more about her work, and check out her original single “Something Real” on Spotify or Apple Music.