Associate Teaching Professor of Music Polly Cornelius is a steadfast champion of Elon students and alumni, nurturing their talent and challenging them to discover the truest versions of themselves as performers and people.
Being a constant in the world of a college student can be a big responsibility. It’s a tumultuous time of self discovery, making choices, making mistakes and figuring out what things are important to you. Polly Cornelius was not only a dedicated constant during my four years at Elon, but she has remained one of my most fervent supporters throughout my adult life.
Polly was my second-ever voice teacher. I met her when I was 18 years old. In hindsight, I think I might have been one of her first students, as she isn’t much older than I am. But she was definitely an expert opera singer in my eyes, and a brilliant teacher. She taught me vocal technique, to sing in French, German, Italian and English, with songs from “Oklahoma” and “The Pirates of Penzance.”
She was also a new mom when I met her. I loved kids and wanted some of my own someday, so I enjoyed asking her about her family during my voice lessons. In my junior year of college, she went on maternity leave to have her second daughter, who I also babysat on occasion. I’ve enjoyed watching her children grow up and become successful young adults.
Polly knew what I could do before I did, and helped me become the soprano I was born to be. I was a very driven performer and student, and relished in any opportunity to exceed her expectations. I’m glad I was really into being “extra” at the time, because it definitely paid off. I made the most of those four years to study, practice and learn, and eventually became a Broadway performer.
She came to see me play Glinda in “Wicked” on Broadway the first time I went on. I was an understudy, and rarely knew when I was going to be playing the role, but the first date I did, she was there.
I graduated in 2003, but even last year, she came to see me perform at a benefit in Greensboro. I was so nervous. Even though I am a seasoned performer, I was still desperate to exceed her expectations, because I love and respect her as a fellow artist and as a friend. We got to spend time together after that show and talked about the same things we talked about in 2000.
She made an enormous impact on my career, and I am grateful to still have her in my life.
Lindsay Northen Bradshaw ’03, a BFA music theatre graduate, spent more than a decade in “Wicked” on Broadway and now performs in “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond” with Walt Disney Entertainment.