Reflecting on Billie Eilish’s Early Days: Her Choir Teacher Recalls Initial Impressions of the Star as a Creative Force
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“Her pitch-perfect singing was always a delight for a choir director,” shares Mandy Brigham, retired member of the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, speaking to PEOPLE about Eilish’s musical talents.
It’s a proud moment for Mandy Brigham to see her former student, Billie Eilish, thrive as a musician.
After Eilish gave Brigham a heartfelt shoutout during her 2024 Oscars acceptance speech, the former Los Angeles Children’s Chorus teacher is reflecting on the “What Was I Made For?” superstar’s time as her student.
“I have a very clear memory of Billie on her first day in choir. I remember right where she was sitting, and I remember she was sitting up really straight,” Brigham tells PEOPLE. “Everyone’s pretty quiet at the first rehearsal because no one comes in knowing anyone else, but she was just really tuned into what was going on.”
Before retiring following the 2022-2023 season, Brigham devoted 22 years to directing at the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, overseeing both young and intermediate groups of singers. She became acquainted with the O’Connell family through her initial teaching of Billie’s older brother, Finneas, whom she assisted in preparing for an opera at Santa Monica College during his time as her student.
Having already established a connection with Finneas and their parents Maggie and Patrick, Brigham was aware that Billie hailed from a musical family and swiftly recognized the future Grammy winner’s talents. “As I got to know her, I just realized how much she loves singing,” remarks the retiree. “She always sang beautifully in tune, which is a gift to a choir director because you can place that person somewhere and know that others will follow their lead.”
Throughout Brigham’s four years teaching Billie, she began to notice the budding songwriter’s interests. “From an early age, I recognized her creativity. She’s truly her own person,” she reflects. “When she was a bit older, she’d have a notebook, jotting down ideas for lyrics and such.”
Later in Billie’s tenure with the LACC, Brigham’s choir embarked on international tours to Japan and British Columbia. By the time of the latter trip, the musician had already released early singles such as “Six Feet Under” and “Ocean Eyes,” which were gaining momentum online. “We were all aware of that, and everybody was thrilled,” recalls the teacher.
Despite her rise to stardom, Billie has maintained a connection to her beginnings. She featured the LACC in her Disney+ concert special Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles and pleasantly surprised the young performers with a visit while they were working on the project at Capitol Records’ studio in Los Angeles. “She was incredibly kind to them, offering hugs and all sorts of gestures,” Brigham remarks. “I think that was a very special and memorable moment for them.”
The “Bad Guy” singer has consistently acknowledged Brigham’s impact on her life, even prior to mentioning her at the Oscars. “When I retired last year, there was a tribute video made,” Brigham recalls. “Billie, Finneas, and Maggie all recorded a little ‘thank you’ message for me, and it meant a lot to me.”
The impact of the “Happier Than Ever” artist extends to current members of the LACC. “They get genuinely excited about Billie’s association with the choir,” remarks Brigham. “During auditions each year, when we ask students how they heard about the chorus, many mention Billie Eilish.”
Billie reciprocated this sentiment by acknowledging Brigham while accepting the Best Original Song award for her Barbie soundtrack hit “What Was I Made For?” at the Oscars earlier this month. Although Brigham typically watches the awards show, she happened to be at the Indian Wells Masters Tennis Tournament at the time. “Then, suddenly my phone started blowing up,” she recalls. “I think ‘disbelief’ would be the best way to describe how I felt.”
While the LACC boasts numerous alumni who have achieved success in opera and classical music, Billie undoubtedly stands out as the organization’s most prominent star — a testament, Brigham asserts, to the teaching approaches of its educators.
“Our objective is to equip the singers with the ability to sing beautifully and maintain a healthy technique, regardless of the genre they choose,” she explains, noting that “it has proven very effective” for Billie.
Being mentioned on stage at the Oscars isn’t the type of acknowledgment a teacher like Brigham necessarily anticipates, but she describes the moment as “incredible.”
“As an educator, when you learn that a student recognizes that you had faith in them, it’s truly a gift,” she expresses. “As a teacher, you hope to convey to your students that you believe in them and to empower them to pursue their aspirations and nurture their talents. So, receiving that validation was incredibly meaningful.”