Eames’ Pathway: In Her Own Key

In the quiet confidence of someone who has learned to trust her own sound, Eames speaks about music as if it were both a companion and a mirror. “I started singing when I was seven,” she says simply, as though this were an ordinary beginning. At Bangkok Patana School, music became something deeper: a place of reinvention, risk and rediscovery.

Eames joined Patana in Year 10, towards the end of COVID, arriving after spending most of her life at one school. “It took a bit of time for me to adjust,” she admits, “I was starting (I)GCSEs, meeting new people, and trying to figure out what I wanted to do.” Like many creative spirits, she threw herself into exploration, IGCSE Music and Drama, Triple Sciences, Business, and onto the stage in Bugsy Malone, where she first found her footing. “That show was how I met so many people. It helped me bond with my year group in a way I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Music, however, was never just another subject. Drawn to Bangkok Patana specifically for its music department, Eames arrived knowing that singing would remain part of her story, even though she hadn’t yet defined its shape. Trained in piano, guitar, musical theatre and classical singing, she reached a crossroad. “Classical kind of steered me away from enjoying music,” she reflects, “It became about perfection, exams, competitions. I didn’t really know who I was as a musician anymore.”

That changed when jazz entered the picture. Through IGCSE Music, Eames began to experiment with genre, loosening structure in favour of feeling. “Jazz gave me the freedom to explore,” she says, “It helped me understand the kind of music I wanted to perform-and who I was.” That freedom deepened when she joined the jazz ensemble at Patana, an invitation that came at a pivotal moment. “At the time, I was actually considering quitting music,” she reveals. “I didn’t really believe I could keep pursuing it.”

What she found instead was a radical shift in philosophy. “I was always taught to make everything sound perfect,” Eames says. “But suddenly I was being told the opposite-stop trying to be perfect, and focus on enjoying yourself. Focus on connecting with the audience.” At first, the reset was disorienting. “I didn’t know what to do with that feedback,” she laughs. “But I trusted it.”

That trust transformed her. Across genres, ensembles and performances, Eames learned not just how to sing, but how to inhabit her voice. “I feel like I’ve grown so much in confidence,” she reflects. “I didn’t really see my own potential at the time, but someone else did, and that changed everything.”

By the time she entered the IB Diploma, her path was clearer. She chose Higher Level Business, Biology, and English, alongside Standard Level Music, Maths, and Language and Culture. “I didn’t choose Higher Level Music because of the composition component,” she explains, “Performance is where my heart is.” Still, she kept music anchored firmly in her academic life.

Beyond the classroom, Eames shaped her community. She founded We Love Music, a student-led initiative aimed at sharing musical opportunities beyond Patana. “Visiting Thai schools really put things into perspective,” she says, “It made me appreciate the resources we have, and it made me want to give something back.”

That balance, artistry and practicality, ultimately guided her university choice. This autumn, Eames will attend Northeastern University, majoring in Music Industry. “It was the only course that combined performance with the business side of music,” she explains, “I wanted to understand how the industry actually works.” Her internship at GMM Grammy’s marketing department confirmed it. From music video shoots to social media campaigns, she saw the machinery behind the spotlight. “I loved seeing the behind-the-scenes side—and being able to add my insight as a performer.”

Singing, she insists, will always remain central. “Performing is my favourite thing,” she says. “But I love that I’m also learning practical skills so I can build a future in the industry.”