Woodlands Academy graduate has song in Disney film

Upcoming singer-songwriter and pop artist Rachel McClusky has scored a song placement in Disney’s new film “Prom,” starring an emerging ensemble cast including Aimee Teegarden, Nicholas Braun and Christine Elise.

The film, released nationwide on April 29, is garnering comparisons to Disney’s “High School Musical” franchise. McClusky’s song — a dance remix of her original “Secret Crush” — is featured in a pivotal scene in the movie.

“I was thrilled to be invited to write two songs for the movie, as well as submit two more I had already written, so having a song selected is an even bigger honor,” said the 17-year-old McClusky, a developing artist based in Chicago. “I can’t wait to see the movie, and it’s an honor to have my music there along side Allstar Weekend and Oh Darling.”

For Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), it’s a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of her perfect prom. Fellow seniors Mei (Yin Chang) and Tyler (De’Vaughn Nixon) harbor secrets, while others face the insecurity and anticipation surrounding one of high school’s huge events. There are hundreds of high school nights, but only one “Prom.”

Likewise, there’s only one Rachel McClusky, whose placement in “Prom” adds to her growing list of musical achievements.

In October, she performed at the Washington Monument as part of a national Special Olympics ceremony to honor the legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. And her song “Be a Fan” was selected as a 2010 U.S. Special Olympics theme. McClusky performed it for 15,000 people at the opening and closing Special Olympics ceremonies in Lincoln, Neb. in July 2010.

Rachel has a passion and talent for making art that “helps people connect. I want to help people through situations by writing music that they can relate to.”

She admires Taylor Swift, Laura Marling, Marina and the Diamonds, and the vocal stylings of Beyoncé and Alicia Keys. But she’s also a fan of a wide variety of artists from Bon Hiver to Andrew Bell. McClusky’s style is all her own: honest and direct in its mix of lyric and melody.

With a growing presence on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, and Midwest shows scheduled through 2011, McClusky has her sights set on taking her music to a whole new level. To learn more about Rachel, visit her website at rachelmcclusky.com.