Some songs stay with us without asking for attention. They pop up at family events, in quiet moments, or on long drives when the timing just feels right. For Katrina Mendez, Amazing Grace is one of those songs. It’s been part of her life for as long as she can remember—from grade school church services to college auditions and personal milestones. Over time, it became more than a song. It became a thread woven through the fabric of her story.

Early Musical Memories

Growing up in a Catholic school, Katrina attended mass twice a week with her classmates. Singing hymns was just a regular part of school life. Back then, churches still used printed hymnals that included musical notation, which gave her some early exposure to reading music, even if informally. Amazing Grace was one of the first songs she learned by heart. She sang it so often that it became second nature—and eventually a default choice anytime she was asked to sing in front of others.

Building Confidence Through One Song

By the time Katrina was in high school, she had started to take music more seriously. She joined choir, learned instruments like guitar and recorder, and eventually began leading songs during mass. She credits Amazing Grace with helping her develop confidence in singing acapella. Performing it repeatedly helped her learn how to start and end on key, maintain pitch, and stay grounded in a melody—skills that would serve her for years to come. She used the hymn as an audition piece more than once, not because it showed off vocal gymnastics, but because she knew how to sing it with emotion and precision. It was familiar, and that allowed her to focus on delivering a solid performance.

A Song with History

The familiarity of Amazing Grace isn’t unique to Katrina. The hymn has been a musical mainstay for over 240 years. Written by John Newton and first published in 1779, the lyrics reflect Newton’s personal journey from a life as a slave ship captain to becoming a Christian minister and vocal abolitionist. The song’s most famous line, “I once was lost, but now am found,” captures that transformation. Interestingly, the tune we know today wasn’t originally paired with Newton’s words. It wasn’t until 1835 that composer William Walker set the lyrics to the melody known as “New Britain,” which gave Amazing Grace its now-iconic sound. Since then, it has been used in religious services, memorials, and major public events, often serving as a comforting presence in difficult times.

Full-Circle Moments

As Katrina grew older, Amazing Grace took on new meaning. She began performing it at memorials and funerals, including her grandmother’s. Her grandmother had been a professional musician, performing in churches and on the radio, and was one of the few people in Katrina’s family who truly understood her passion for music. When Katrina was a child, her grandmother recorded several tapes of herself singing—one of them included Amazing Grace. Though she hadn’t thought about those tapes in years, the memory came back during the interview, and with it, a deeper understanding of why the song had always felt so significant. She even recorded the hymn for her grandmother’s graveside service when she couldn’t attend in person.

From Stage to Studio

Despite her strong foundation in music, Katrina never gravitated toward musical theater or Broadway-style performances. Instead, she found her place in more intimate settings. She studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she led a jazz quartet and performed in small venues regularly. Her group replaced the typical piano with a vibraphone, giving their sound a unique twist. For Katrina, music has always been more about connection than performance—whether it’s singing in church, teaching students, or playing with her kids at home. Even now, music continues to be part of her everyday life, and Amazing Grace remains in her rotation, especially during moments of reflection or remembrance. Katrina finds solice in singing at church now. That's where she finds music's purpose.

Why This Story Matters

Katrina’s relationship with Amazing Grace wasn’t planned or overly sentimental. It simply showed up in meaningful moments again and again, creating a quiet but consistent presence in her life. For anyone who has a song that seems to follow them over the years, her story will feel familiar. It’s a reminder that music doesn’t need to be flashy to be powerful—and sometimes, the songs that stick are the ones we don’t even realize are shaping us.

Amazing Grace (the song)

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Connect with Katrin Mendez, CEO and Founder of Shining Star Music Academy:
Blog: Shining Star Music Academy, www.shiningStarMusicAcademy.com, Facebook:Shining Star Music Academy, Instagram (@shiningstarmusicacademygnv)

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