Alicia Montano’s (’25) journey to Brea Olinda High School’s Performing Arts Center’s stage began eleven years ago at the Arovista Elementary School talent show. Eyes wide, hands trembling, Montano, then seven years old, approached the microphone to sing “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid. Her voice quivered, but she sang anyway.
That initial courage to sing in front of classmates, teachers, and family came from the support of a veteran of BOHS choirs: Montano’s mother, Rebecca Hernandez Montano (‘94). The pair had already long-bonded over music, singing in tandem to Shania Twain and Celine Dion, belting out high notes and practicing Alicia’s vocal range.
Emboldened by her debut performance, Montano joined another production, the district-wide elementary musical Seussical Jr., as an ensemble member. As a neon-clad Jungle Citizen, Montano threw herself into the sassy lyrics from “Biggest Blame Fool” with zeal, already dreaming of the day she would take center stage as the show’s lead, Sour Kangaroo.
Montano continued developing her vocal range — and confidence — in other district elementary shows like Willy Wonka and The Wizard of Oz.
In the sixth grade, Montano earned her first lead role.
In denim overalls and a floppy hat, Montano performed as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, singing “Ease on Down the Road” and “Everyday” alongside Dorothy as they traveled to Oz in hopes of finding the missing parts of themselves.
But despite her progression from an ensemble player to lead, Montano struggled with her confidence.
“There were times when I kind of would get down on myself and be like, ‘I’m not good enough,’ or just be emotionally drained,” Montano said. “But I would remember how I’d feel on stage and know that I don’t get that feeling anywhere else.”
That feeling, combined with her experience in elementary school productions, instilled in Montano the courage to join Brea Junior High’s Show Choir program in the seventh grade. The five-day-a-week training sessions and glittery showcases were opportunities for her to further hone her naturally powerful voice.
Like her mother 27 years earlier, it was Montano’s introduction to BOHS’s choir program her freshman year that sparked her renaissance. Motivated, and humbled, by her older peers’ talent, Montano soon transformed into the award-winning artist she is today.
Molly Gooch, Show Choir Director, witnessed Montano’s evolution first-hand.
As a freshman, Montano was an excellent singer, but “sang almost entirely in her chest voice and was a strong belter,” Gooch said. Curious about what her voice could do, Montano was open to trying new techniques.
“She discovered a beautifully resonant head voice that eventually led to her developing a very strong mixed voice,” Gooch said.
These technical improvements landed Montano the lead role of Dottie in a choir production of A League of Their Own her junior year, plus leadership roles as president of the Spellbound and Masquerade choirs.
Montano’s first love, however, is musical theater.
“When it comes to acting and singing in musical theater, you have to become another character, where you could also put some of yourself into it,” Montano said. “I feel like a different person.”
Montano credits BOHS’s inaugural Musical Theatre class for helping her grow to be a more well-rounded performer, as she had never felt as comfortable acting and dancing as she does singing.
“[Alicia] is already a strong singer,” Kim Ofcacek, Musical Theater director, said, “but over the past few months I have seen her acting skills improve.”
Last month, Montano performed in The Addams Family as the lead, Wednesday Addams. The veteran singer wowed the audience with a powerful, confident solo of “Pulled.”
“I’ve been told by a lot of people – when I’m done with my shows and I walk out – ‘Wow, I really felt your emotion in that song,’” Montano said. “That’s kind of my end goal. I love to connect to the audience and display my emotion.”
After the curtain fell on The Addams Family, what once felt like a pastime now feels like a calling.
“I would love to have a career in musical theater because when I sing, I feel alive on stage, but when I’m doing musical theater, I feel free. I just feel like I’m not as restricted as I am in normal everyday life,” Montano said. “I never get that feeling anywhere else but when I’m on stage doing musicals.”
That growth, freedom, and success (this spring, Montano was a semifinalist for the Orange County Register’s 2025 OC Artist of the Year in the vocalist category), has inspired her next chapter: Studying and performing for two years at Fullerton College’s musical theater program, then transferring to a New York City performing arts university.
Even if her stage hasn’t yet been built, Montano knows where she is heading: the bright lights and packed theaters of New York City’s Broadway.
“Alicia has that passion and vivacity for singing and performing that not every person possesses,” Gooch said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Alicia will make it to Broadway someday.”
Still, Montano treats her talent like a work in progress.
“I definitely want to improve on my dancing, learn how to tap, learn how to play the piano, and I want to improve on my acting for sure,” Montano said. “For my singing, I will always want to keep growing in it.”
One day, perhaps just a few years from now, a visitor to New York City will flip open a Playbill and see the name “Alicia Montano” printed above the title of a hit musical. And when they do, they’ll be holding in their hands the story of a performer whose journey began with trembling hands and powerful voice on Brea stages.