Eighteen-year-old Caroline Glaser has loved music and singing for as long as she can remember. Recently, the 2012 Marquette High School graduate got to showcase that love on the hit NBC TV show ‘The Voice,’ which was viewed by more than 12 million people nationwide.

“[Being on] ‘The Voice’ has impacted me in a lot of ways… Mainly it has just motivated me to full on pursue my passion in music,” Glaser said. “It has shown me that it is possible to make my dream my career, and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.”

Throughout elementary school, Glaser participated in summer workshops, which she believes first sparked her passion for music. As a teen, she utilized both social media and local venues to display her talent.

“I mainly stayed active in music by uploading cover videos to my YouTube channel along with participating in the open mic nights at my local coffee shop almost every Thursday,” Glaser said.

Her videos can be found on her YouTube channel by typing “Caroline Glaser” into the search bar.

In preparation for her audition on “The Voice,” Glaser began taking vocal lessons. Though her confidence grew, she said she was still a “nervous wreck” until making it past the first round of the competition.

“Being thrown in a room full of extremely talented artists was a bit discouraging for me,” Glaser said.  “I’m not really the type to sing around people I don’t know, especially after hearing how incredibly talented everyone was.”

While filming in LA, Glaser stayed in a hotel near Universal Studios. The filming schedule for the show was hectic, with Glaser sometimes needing to be on set from 7 in the morning until 11 at night.

“The whole process was an absolutely amazing experience,” she said. “Money honestly can’t buy that kind of learning experience.”

Both of Glaser’s celebrity coaches on the show, judges Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, told her to stick to her own unique talent as an artist, and not to compare herself to others. Levine, the Jewish lead singer of the popular band Maroon 5, especially encouraged her to own her style and keep working hard at her dream.

“Caroline, there is something so ethereal and magical about your voice,” Levine told Glaser on the show. “You always impress me, you send me to this place, and your voice has this really magical quality.”

Now that she has learned from some of the best, Glaser plans on using her knowledge to pursue a career in music. Equally important, she has motivated teens everywhere, especially in the St. Louis area. 

“The first time I saw Caroline perform on ‘The Voice,’ I was so impressed,” Hannah Frankel, a sophomore at Ladue, said. “She is an amazing singer and role model to many because she shows what you can accomplish when you work hard to reach a goal.”

Teens like Hannah will have a chance to see Glaser perform live Sept. 16 at the 360 Lounge atop the Hilton St. Louis downtown, near the ballpark. 

Despite the improbable odds of achieving success in the music industry, Glaser advises young teens interested in music to persevere.

“If music is your passion, you should absolutely pursue it,” Glaser said. “No matter what obstacles you face.” •