While an artistic mind sometimes takes time to bloom, Kennedy Pope’s passion for the arts was present from the start. It all began with a violin lesson at a young age: “Math was never really my strong suit, but music, I know music. Counting notes and all the different elements of sound just come easily to my brain,” Kennedy says. Now, her talents have expanded to theatre, visual art, and child education. With empathy and compassion at her forefront, she will continue to inspire those around her as her path leads her forward, through music, and beyond.

Growing Musical Achievement

Kennedy’s background in music includes free violin lessons through the nonprofit organization KidsNotes, which introduced her to her innate talent for reading music. However, it wasn’t until later in life that she discovered her abilities could be put to use beyond the violin. 

With numerous musical opportunities at Enloe, Kennedy Pope found her voice her freshman year. “I’ve been in three different choruses … beginning chorus, ATE [Advanced Treble Ensemble], and Chamber Chorus, which is the highest level,” Pope explains. Going into her senior year of high school, her voice is her preferred instrument. 

Kennedy has also performed with Enloe’s elite choral ensemble, Crescenloe. This ensemble features the most talented of performers from Enloe’s choral department, who travel across the state to compete with other high schools. Kennedy has found her place in music. Her dedication to her passion in the arts allowed her to balance the demanding schedule for such an honorary commitment.

Notably, her dedication to the arts brought about a new wave of opportunity when she was selected for the NC Honors Chorus. This was a wonderful chance for Kennedy to participate in rigorous vocal training during her Junior and Senior years of high school. “It’s an all-state, audition-based event … about 200 students are selected from all over the state to perform in Winston-Salem, and I was one of them,” she states.

Kennedy’s Influence

As one of the most involved members of Enloe’s music guild, Kennedy has secured a main role in three of Enloe’s main stage musicals. This includes her lead role as Delilah in Enloe’s 2025 performance of “Between the Lines,” when she showcased her voice and talent as an aspiring singer-songwriter and tremendous actress. 

She is now widely recognized among underclassmen as a leader in Enloe chorus and theatre, her influence leaving an immense mark on her peers. “She is so nice and understanding,” notes Jasmine Xie, Kennedy’s friend and classmate. Xie adds, “I love it when I can ask her for a specific note, and she can just sing it!” This is due to a unique quality called perfect (or absolute) pitch, the ability to articulate a specific note perfectly, without prior reference for how the note sounds.

Kennedy reflects on her first years at Enloe and how others helped her feel supported when entering a new school. “Back in freshman year, I would look at these seniors, and these upperclassmen, and these amazing performers … and they inspired me to advance in the program and just continue what I’m doing. Now I’m here, and it’s crazy that I’m in the same place they were,” Kennedy reminisces.

 Despite the initial hesitation of taking the place of her leaders, Kennedy now fulfills the role of seniors before her. Recognizing that it is her duty to offer support, she uses her guidance and knowledge to help others. “It’s just second nature for me,” Kennedy admits. “Stuff that I would have asked the seniors about in my freshman year. It just seems so obvious to me now. To know that it was never as complicated and scary as I thought is just so amazing.” While offering advice and a helping hand, Kennedy demonstrates immense empathy for concerned underclassmen navigating the turmoil of high school. 

One such piece of advice from Kennedy is to seek outside education, which she deems vital to growth. “I encourage a lot of people to push themselves, if that’s what they want to do … Do not be scared. There is more than just Enloe. Explore!” she emphasizes. Although Enloe offers a tremendous amount of choral opportunities, there are so many opportunities for young musical artists in Wake County and beyond. No matter what instrument you play, even if your instrument is your voice, there will always be more for you to discover!

What does the future hold for Kennedy Pope?

Kennedy has a bright future ahead of her as she heads into her final year of high school. She has considered diverse fields, including psychology, linguistics, and children’s education. However, she ultimately wishes to honor her musical talent in her career. Kennedy reveals, “My dream is to be a voice actress, or to write music for the background of movies and TV shows, or even possibly be a film scorer and produce music.”

Her top two universities as of now are Elon and UNC Greensboro; “They’re both so artsy!” she remarks, and artsy is what calls Kennedy’s name! With a passion for music and for helping others, Kennedy is sure to find her place in the world. The Eagle’s Eye hopes she continues to use her amazing voice, whether it be through song or by educating our future leaders.