Senior Minntah Haefker has a more than stacked resume. Haefker speaks German, English and Thai, and has dominated the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Soprano Districts and performed in the Cathedral Jazz festival this summer. With her recent featured profile in The Astorian, Haefker finds herself getting noticed more and more everyday.
Haefker discovered herself to be musically inclined early on, but her first engagement with music was not with vocals.
“I started with piano at a young age at five or six, and then I realized that it wasn’t my instrument. But once I incorporated singing, it was a lot of fun,” said Haefker.
When asked about performing in front of a crowd, Haefker says she loves performing and learns a lot when performing live.
“Because you never know. It could go horribly wrong, or it could go really incredible and it could be the best experience of your life. So I’ve just learned to go for it,” said Haefker.
Haefker usually books up to two gigs a month. She performs solo, or accompanied by her uncle’s band, “Three Leg Torso.”
Hope Ferns, Lincoln’s 2D Art and Design teacher, sees Haefker being successful in any aspect of her future, whether that’s pursuing music or her visual art.
“[There is] definitely something creative [in Haefker’s future], something with voice, something with engaging the community, she just like brings people together,” said Ferns.
Besides being a supporter of Haefker’s other talents in visual arts, Ferns is just as supportive of Haefker’s career in music as well.
“I got to see her perform this summer too,” said Ferns. “Just seeing all the cool stuff she does with her vocal work is phenomenal.”
Haefker’s close friend, senior Olivia Kim, would label herself as one of Haefker’s biggest fans. They met when they both lived in Astoria, and bonded over their move back to Portland. Kim believes that Haefker is talented both artistically and socially.
“She’s really good at making people smile, like she’s very silly and it inspires me to get more out of my comfort zone,” said Kim.
Haefker plans to continue her career in music.
“I am so happy and lucky to have had the chance to come to Lincoln and meet some really incredible people even though it took me a while to open up. I have definitely had some great experiences here. I think I’ve seen some personal growth in myself,” said Haefker.
You can find Haefkers many performances on her Youtube channel, or read her profile on The Astorian.
