Hello! My name is Sophia.
I am a 16-year-old lover of music, literature, and all things Beauty.
Whether the music is folk & pop or Broadway and classical, whether I’m a soloist or with my family band Rooted in Grace, whether it’s for five hundred people or fifteen; I love blessing others with music.
Harp
I honestly can’t remember when playing the harp became my life-long dream…but I began taking lessons at age nine.
I quickly discovered that music is my passion, so I went all in. I was playing in nursing homes with my church from the time I could plunk out a few chords, and I received my first paying gig by age eleven.
At age twelve I auditioned for the American Harp Society National Competition, and later that year I performed a solo concert entitled Beauty Through the Ages for friends and family.
I have the privilege of studying under Dr. Sarah Crocker from the very beginning and performing with the chamber orchestra of the Conservatory of Annie Moses for two years. I have also been selected for masterclasses with Duo Scorpio and Sivan Megan.
I am currently the principal harpist of Curb Youth Symphony, and Philharmonia Orchestra at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music.
Voice
I have been singing in different capacities for my whole life - in the backyard, at the kitchen sink, during church, etc.
But when I began taking vocal lessons, I discovered a whole new world! Singing became (and is) more than just a natural aptitude for me - it’s a fine art. For more than a year I have been rigorously studying classical vocal technique with the award-winning, Julliard graduate soprano Melissa Shippen-Burrows.
I was selected as a finalist and was awarded Most Promising Sophomore in the Schmidt Vocal Arts competition for high schoolers in 2022. In 2023, I entered the Junior ATC (American Traditions Vocal Competition) and was chosen as a top-5 finalist.
I have participated musical theater, including the musical Annie, and a debut production based on the beloved book Little Women.
I also perform regularly as a lead vocalist with my family band, Rooted in Grace, across the state of Tennessee, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas. We just finished recording our very first album with Kent Wells Productions, and our time in the studio was phenomenal!
When I’m not performing music…
I enjoy spending time in nature, with friends, and especially with my family (when you’re homeschooled that’s mandatory!).
I also love sewing, crocheting, graphic design, fashion, listening to music (that I’m not making), reading, and coffee.❤️
What is my ideal, quiet afternoon? You would find me in my room with coffee and blueberry crumb cake close by, completing a creative project while an Andrew Peterson CD plays in the background.
