An Incredible Young Woman
Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 2:38PM
By Claudia Kittock
Naomi Hofstad is an incredible young woman and a recipient of the Sallie Steele Birdsong Scholarship, sponsored by Be That Neighbor. When Naomi talks about singing, her eyes light up, and her whole face shines with pure joy. She told me she has always been singing. When her parents first met her in Liberia, she beat out a tune with an empty water bottle. Nothing has changed. As she said, “I sing every night and every day.”
Rebecca, Naomi’s Mom, heard about J.D. Steele during the pandemic, got online and found him at MacPhail. Their first in-person experience with J.D. was on the now famous University of Minnesota parking ramp where the MacPhail Community Youth Choir (MCYC) was rehearsing. It was love at first note and Naomi has been an avid member of MCYC since then.
Naomi took piano lessons, but found it slowed her down. She prefers to hear music and then to figure it out. Her plans for the future include college to study singing, and then she hopes to become a performer. Naomi practices her performance skills on her church worship team and with MCYC.
When she sings, she said she feels the same as everyone else, and what a wonderful gift that is for all of us who sing. Naomi loves watching people respond while she is singing. It fills her with true joy.
Naomi is why the Sallie Steele Birdsong Scholarship exists. Music is necessary in all of our lives, and we need to make sure we help each and every young person to find that access. We are grateful for Naomi Hofstad and how she shares her joy of music with all of us. We are all stronger because of her.
