To listen to Ari Remm talk about music, one cannot help but to pick-up on a confidence and poise that makes it easy to see where her future may lead. At just thirteen years old and in the eighth grade, she already carries herself like someone who knows what she loves. Singing, performing, and sharing her voice with an audience is where she feels most at home.

Ari’s journey to Benton has included a few different chapters. She started here in kindergarten and remained through the beginning of fourth grade. Then, when the pandemic disrupted schools across the country, her family made the decision to homeschool. “It was probably best for us during those years,” Ari said, recalling the uncertainty of that time. For two years, she studied at home, with her parents and grandmother helping her balance lessons while they juggled their own jobs. By sixth grade, her parents felt she needed more structure and social interaction, so they enrolled her at a private Christian school in West Frankfort. Eventually, she returned to Benton in seventh grade and has been here since. “Coming back, I already knew some people,” Ari said. “That really helped me settle in, and I got to meet new friends too. I love the teachers.”

Ari’s family has lived in Benton her entire life. She is the oldest of two children, with a younger brother, Kai, who is in fourth grade. Their parents, Hillary and Paul Remm, both work full-time—her mom co-owns S.C.D. Ray & Sons Insurance Agency with her father, and her dad works in credentialing at Franklin Hospital. Together, they have created a supportive home where both children are encouraged to follow their interests.

For Ari, those interests revolve around music and theater. “My favorite subject is chorus,” she said, adding that she also enjoys geography and has a growing fascination with France. She takes voice lessons from her choir teacher, Mrs. Leffler, and often sings solos. Beyond school, Ari spends her summers performing with Pyramid Players, a community theater group based at the Benton Civic Center. She has already played major roles, including Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and performed in Honk Jr. and Anastasia. While she claims she’s not much of a dancer, she happily learns choreography when musicals require it, always focusing on the joy of acting and singing.

Her love for performing is matched by her dedication. Ari has a natural soprano voice, and through both school and community opportunities, she has developed the confidence to step into the spotlight. She talks about music not just as something she enjoys now, but as a career she is already envisioning. “I want to be a vocal coach and maybe a musical director,” she said. “I’d love to teach singing lessons and maybe direct a chorus one day.” She has even begun exploring colleges. After attending a DramaCon event at Southeastern Illinois College, she was intrigued by the possibilities, though she knows she will likely continue her studies elsewhere after completing a two-year program. Murray State and SEMO are among the schools she has heard good things about.

Ari’s aspirations also extend beyond the stage. “Mostly I do want to be a mom,” she shared, “but not, like, stay at home all the time. I’d love to have a family and also be teaching music.” It’s a thoughtful vision of a balanced life—one that blends her personal dreams with her professional ambitions.

Even outside of music, Ari keeps herself busy with creative and community activities. She’s a member of the student council, contributes ideas and energy to school life, and finds time for hobbies like writing stories, reading, and making jewelry with her mom. Together, they even run a small jewelry business, turning their creativity into something tangible they can share with others.

Faith also plays an important role in Ari’s life. Her family attends Second Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, where she is active in the youth group. “I love it,” she said. “It goes into a lot of deeper stuff, especially our youth group. It elaborates on a lot of things, and it’s a lot of fun.” The combination of her church, school, and theater communities has given Ari a wide circle of support as she prepares for high school and beyond.

Looking back on her journey—public school, homeschooling, private school, and then returning to Benton—Ari sees each step as part of what has shaped her into the person she is today. She speaks with calm assurance about where she has been and where she hopes to go. Music is not just an extracurricular activity for her; it is her calling. With each performance, each rehearsal, and each class, Ari is building toward a future that already feels within reach..