Sierra Colvin (12) started piano lessons when she was seven years old. Now, ten years later, she’s worked her way up to perform for thousands of people at Red Rocks Amphitheater and has gone on tour with her band for two summers in a row.

“When I first started, it was terrifying, but now I don’t even really get nervous doing shows, just because it’s something I’ve done so much of, which I wouldn’t have been able to without School of Rock,” Sierra said. “Being a performer, I learned that it’s not really something that you have to be afraid of.”

School of Rock is a program where professional musicians teach students from early ages to adulthood how to play music and perform. Sierra decided to join School of Rock in 2017 when she was 11 years old, and has stuck with it ever since, broadening her talents with singing and performing.

“I was taking lessons from someone in Louisville, and I heard a friend of mine talking about doing School of Rock. So I saw one of her performances, and it just seemed much more organized and like a bigger experience than just lessons,” Sierra said.

Her dedication to School of Rock extends beyond her own musical success. Sierra contributes greatly to the band’s efficiency and pays attention to many technical aspects of performance. During rehearsals, she ensures that songs stop in the right place and that the correct guitar pedals are turned.

“She’s one of the most driven people I’ve ever met at her age,” School of Rock guitar coach Ben Maillaro said. “A lot of people want to play music. A lot of people do it as kind of a side thing or a hobby, but she’s one of the younger people

I’ve seen who actively works at it when she comes in every week.”

Because she’s so devoted to music, she’s able to apply her creative talents to several different genres. Through her exposure to a variety of music types, Sierra found one that sparked her interest more than others.

“My favorite genre to sing is blues because you can be really creative with it,” Sierra said. “And it’s not really confined to what is written or on a track, but mostly it’s classic rock that we play.”

With every different type of music Sierra gets to play, she learns about new skills and techniques to raise the bar for herself. She’s been taught that different styles require completely different types of performance. Sierra has had the opportunity to play all types of genres, and thanks to her coaches at School of Rock, she has received incredible opportunities to express her talents.

“It was our hometown show, and all of our friends came out to watch her, and I felt like she just stepped into this person and had this amazing stage presence during her show,” Caroline said. “No doubt with that performance band, it has given her so much confidence.”

Sierra started small with her performances, but ultimately built her way up to performing at Red Rocks Amphitheater with her house band, which is the top band in the program, in 2021. She also went on tour for two summers in a row with that band. She realized that expanding her talents would require hard work and stamina, but would eventually pay off.

“Performing at Red Rocks taught me that you have to compromise a lot,” Sierra said. “That year was my first year being in house band, so I only got half a lead.”

Becoming someone great starts with small improvements, but Sierra quickly adjusted and has built her talents up to the top. After performing at Red Rocks, Sierra learned what the life of a professional musician was like when she went on tour with School of Rock.

“We went on tour two summers in a row, and that was probably my favorite memory, because we got to go with different house bands from the ones we went with last year in Fort Collins, and then the year before that in Denver,” Sierra said. “We also played with house bands from different states, like Albuquerque and Salt Lake City, which was really cool to see the difference in our schools.”

Not only did Sierra collaborate with musicians she wouldn’t normally work with, but she learned about the background work involved in a professional tour.

“We had to unload the bus ourselves for every gig, and then load it back up. So that was like taking a drum kit, all the amps, all of the cables, setting everything up on our own,” Sierra said. “Our instructors did very little because they wanted us to learn how to do it ourselves. But it was also a lot of fun.”

Going on a tour requires a lot of strength from all the musicians involved. For all professional musicians, saving their strength can be challenging, but it is key to performing consecutively.

“I learned specifically about the tour life and having multiple shows in a row,” Sierra said. “It’s a lot different having to preserve your energy, specifically as a singer, because if you sing too hard the first night, then you lose your voice the second night, and then you can’t sing. So you have to have a balance, which is new because we usually would just go all out for the show.”

Sierra’s experience was unforgettable. Given the work involved, she hopes to go on tour again in the future. Although logistical responsibility will be more on her, it would be an incredible journey.

Her time on tour only improved her confidence in performing. She has become a mentor to younger musicians in the School of Rock, following in the footsteps of her coaches.

“She went from being one of the little ones to one of the kids that everyone looks up to, and it’s neat to see her work alongside some of the little girls who are really nervous, and Sierra does such a great job supporting them,” Caroline said. “And so I think that School of Rock has given her a lot of confidence, and it’s helped her to become a really strong leader.”

While she believes the music industry can be an unstable career path, Sierra still plans to keep music in her life. She is forever grateful for her unique experiences and will carry what she’s learned with her into the next chapter of her life.

Sierra encourages all aspiring musicians to put themselves out there. With the right coaching and environment, a career like Sierra’s could lead to something even bigger than performing.

“Once you get over the fear of singing in front of people, you’re able to have a lot more fun with it,” Sierra said. “School of Rock taught me that I need to be confident in my ability if I want to perform well, and it’s made me confident on and off the stage.”