For Charlee Sorenson, music and mentorship have never been separate ideas—they’re intertwined, like a perfect melody and harmony woven together to create the symphony of her life. A vocal performance major at the UVU School of the Arts and the current Miss Provo, Sorenson is now using her talents, education, and platform to help other young artists find their way. 

A Small Town with Big Dreams 

Raised in the small town of Aurora, Utah, Sorenson grew up as the youngest of three children in a family that encouraged individuality. While her brother thrived in sports and her sister pursued cheerleading, Charlee was drawn to the arts from a young age. Her love for music was recognized early on by her mother, a musician herself, who noticed her daughter's keen ear and enrolled her in singing lessons by the age of seven. 

“People don’t normally start vocal lessons that young, but I really wanted to get good,” Sorenson recalled. “I took all the direction seriously and stuck with it.” Her dedication eventually led her to train at Utah Conservatory of Performing Arts and later with Dr. Isaac Hurtado, a pivotal mentor and voice professor at the UVU School of the Arts. That mentorship would go on to shape both her vocal career and her personal mission. 

Mentors Matter: A Mission Built from Experience 

Sorenson’s pageant journey began long before college and was inspired by her older sister, Miss Utah’s Teen 2015. Sorenson competed three times before winning the 2020 crown herself, just two weeks before the world shut down due to COVID-19. 

“It was not what I expected,” she said with a laugh. “A lot of my time as Miss Utah’s Teen was through social media, which wasn’t my strong suit at the time.” But she learned quickly, building skills in digital advocacy and community engagement despite the obstacles that came with navigating the digital shift during a global pandemic. 

As part of the mission of The Miss America Opportunity to support and uplift communities, each contestant platforms on a Community Service Initiative (CSI), a message built from personal passions and goals. Sorenson’s (CSI), titled “Mentors Matter: Empowering Dreams, Shaping Realities,” draws directly from her own experiences with mentors from every aspect of her life. “Growing up, I had so many mentors, especially strong women, around me, and they empowered me to work for my dreams,” she explained. 

According to Sorenson, one in three Utah youth lack access to a consistent mentor, something she sees as a serious problem in an increasingly disconnected world. “We’re living in a post-recession, post-COVID time where people are struggling with loneliness. Mentors provide critical support during those life transitions.” 

Through partnerships with programs like Women Who Succeed and Big Brothers Big Sisters, she encourages youth to seek out guidance and advocates for more adults to step into mentoring roles. She personally benefitted from Women Who Succeed, being mentored by a senior leader at Maverik, who offered both professional and personal support. 

A Star on Two Stages 

One of the big draws of competing with the Miss America organization is the potential for scholarships. Under the tutelage of the faculty members at the UVU School of the Arts, Sorenson refined and sharpened her innate talent. “I came in with a good ear, but not a lot of music theory knowledge,” she said. “There were times I didn’t know if I could do it, but the faculty believed in me.” 

That belief paid off. This past spring, she performed as the Queen of the Night, singing Mozart’s Der Hölle Rache in UVU Opera’s Spring production, Scenes from The Magic Flute. “It was my favorite role todate,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I was ready, but my teacher believed I was and helped me rise to the challenge.” You can see a clip of her performance on Instagram. 

The production also gave students the opportunity to educate the public about opera, particularly the difference between opera and “popera.” “People hear ‘opera singer’ and say, ‘Oh, I love Phantom of the Opera,’” she laughed. “We loved being able to share the history and power of true opera with our audience.” 

A Future in Music and Mentorship 

Just one year away from graduation, Sorenson is already well at hand in preparing for her next performance stage. She plans to apply to master’s programs and hopes to build a career that balances performing professionally with teaching aspiring singers. 

“You don’t just learn to sing in this degree—you learn to teach, to communicate, and to understand the art form deeply,” she said. “Opera singers are part performer, part historian.” 

Her advice to young artists? “Find a mentor who knows the industry and can guide you. And then commit—really commit. It takes time, work, and heart to grow in this career.” 

Whether she’s studying an aria for class, mentoring students at the Utah Vocal Arts Academy, or preparing for the Miss Utah stage, Sorenson wears many hats—and one crown—all with the same purpose: to inspire others, and to keep learning and giving back. 

“I was lucky to have people who believed in me,” she said. “Now, I just want to be that person for someone else.”  

At this year’s Miss Utah competition, Sorenson not only took home a preliminary win for Overall Talent and an Overall Vocalist Award; she also secured a place in the Top 15 and was named second runner-up to Miss Utah.  

Sorenson’s mentor and UVU vocal faculty member, Dr. Isaac Hurtado, had this to say about Sorenson’s wins, “Charlee’s success in the Miss Utah Competition comes as no surprise to those of us who know her formidable vocal talent, and brilliant personality. She has a bright future ahead on the opera stage and in life!” 

You can stay updated on her initiatives, work in the community, and progress to graduation by following @missprovo.ut on Instagram.