Writing her own story

First of a series of stories about Bellmore-Merrick students in the arts.

In Ashley Starr’s mind, everybody has a story.

The 14-year-old recent Merrick Avenue graduate was one of many students honored last month at the Bellmore-Merrick Cultural Arts Foundation Awards Luncheon. She was recognized for her abilities as an all-county vocalist.

However, Ashley said she doesn’t want to be known just for her singing — she’s also an accomplished dancer and actress. If you ask her, she’ll simply tell you she’s a performer. “It would be way too hard to pick one,” she said when asked what she enjoys most.

She lives in North Merrick with her mother, Robyn, and her grandmother Eileen. In the fall she will attend Calhoun High School and will participate in the school’s On Tour Company, a program designed to help launch the careers of aspiring young musicians, singers and dancers.

Ashley’s story began at age 4, when she first started dancing. “I really started loving it and dancing around the house,” she said. “It was the one thing that always made me happy.”

She attended Chatterton Elementary School, and she said it was a turning point in her life when, in the fifth-grade school play, she landed the lead role of Dolly in “Hello Dolly.” “I never thought I’d be able to do something like that,” she said. “That was definitely a big impact on what I would be doing in theater in the next few years.”

Her mother said she was thrilled, but also shocked, when she learned that Ashley had won the lead role. “We don’t know where she gets the singing talent from,” Robyn said. “Since fifth grade, she just loved to sing, dance and perform.”

Since then, Ashley has not only been an all-county vocalist, but she has also been involved in the New York State School Music Association. She is a member of Merrick’s a cappella choral group, and in addition to On Tour, she will also be a member of Calhoun’s Crescendo Choir.