Christmas came early for Jacki Schneider.

The fifth-year music education major and December graduate was one of two winners of the "Broadway Holiday" contest.

Schneider shared Victoria Theatre's stage with fellow Dayton-area singers and Broadway stars like Marc Kudisch ("9 to 5") and Danny Zolli ("Jesus Christ Superstar"), an experience she'll never forget.

"I had heart-to-hearts with Marc on many occasions," Schneider said. "He had some very interesting insight to the profession and even the vocal coaching world that I'd never known before."

Schneider, now an assistant choir director at West Carrollton High School, said singing at Victoria Theatre was unique because of how easy it was for the audience to relate to her.

"Every show, they would interview me and ask me where I was from and what I was doing in the Dayton area, and it was a given that someone was a UD grad or a West Carrollton parent or a Kettering Fairmont student in the audience," she said. "I had many of my students come see me perform."

Tina McPhearson, vice president of programming for Victoria Theatre, said she was impressed with Schneider's ability to juggle her graduation responsibilities with her performance schedule.

"It was very tough for Jacki," McPhearson said. "A two week run is very hard when you think about it, especially at the end of the week. You're basically spending all day at the theatre, but she pulled it off very well, and the stars were impressed with her."

The stars of "Broadway Holiday" inspired Schneider with their stamina and star power.

Schneider called Danny Zolli, who sang "Gethsemane," the epitome of Jesus from "Jesus Christ Superstar."

"His [Zolli's] performance was mesmerizing," she said. "Opening night sitting backstage, Marc turned to me and said, 'I don't know anyone that can do what he does ... But then again, I don't know anyone who can do what I do either.'"

Schneider said she considered singing in "Broadway Holiday" to be fulfilling.

It also convinced her that she could make it on Broadway, although she is hesitant to move to New York.

"It's a difficult world to be involved in, and I don't think I have the patience," she said. "This opportunity sort of fell into my lap, and I'm very thankful that I ended up auditioning. I would love to be on Broadway, but I'm not sure it's in the cards for me."