Cascade School of Music is proud to announce 11 year old Ukulele student, Sydney Mucha, has been awarded the Rising Star Award for February, 2017.  Sydney is a student of Rebecca Smith and the daughter of Ken and Jennifer Mucha of Bend.

The Rising Star Award recognizes students in years one and two of private instruction who exhibit talent, effort and achievement.  The students who receive this award have been nominated by their teachers as showing both great promise as musicians along with great perseverance and commitment to their craft. 

Sydney started playing the Ukulele after a few trips to Kauai, and she has loved playing it ever since her first lesson.  Sydney recently performed a duet for her schools musical highlighting The Beetles.

“Sydney has gone way beyond any other ukulele student I have had,” says Rebecca Smith. “She embraces learning challenging strums & finger picking, effects such as hammer-ons and pull-offs, rhythm & note reading and improvisation. Sydney is persistent and willing to tackle new concepts outside of her comfort zone!”

Trish Allehoff, Interim Director says, “Sydney’s enthusiasm for ukulele is hard to beat! She will soon be adding baritone ukulele to her list of instruments. Sydney has a delightful personality and this instrument suits her well.”

Along with an award certificate, Sydney received a $50 scholarship toward her private lessons and goody bags from award sponsors Just Joe’s Music, Wabi Sabi and Cascade School of Music. Sydney and subsequent monthly Rising Star Award winners are the only students eligible to win the grand prize $500 scholarship to continue their music studies at Cascade School of Music during Crescendo Bendo to be held at the Tower Theatre on June 10, 2017.