Student of the Month: July 2025 Edition
Being the composer of Rock 101’s Student of the Month program is the very best job out there. I get to talk to incredible students every single month. Regardless of my mood walking in, I always walk away with a massive smile on my face. This month is no different. Check out these joyful students who are having so much fun on their musical adventures.
Mia Sanchez
This Hamilton fanatic, who has only been playing the violin for a few months, is already crushing it. Inspired by her mom’s best friend, who plays in a mariachi band, Mia loves the violin and thinks it's a lot of fun to learn. Her favorite song that she has learned so far is The Can Can, which has an upbeat and spunky energy that matches Mia’s personality.
Although Mia loves the violin, she also has many other hobbies. She likes learning new crafts, and currently enjoys painting (flowers & landscapes!) and knitting (her grandmother taught her!). She is an avid reader who absolutely loves history books.
Coming from a family of singers, music holds a special meaning for Mia. It helps her to zone out and forget her worries, and it also helps her to shift her thoughts and emotions. Denilson has enjoyed having Mia as a student because of her warm personality and her ability to face a challenge. Denilson says, “her demeanor is always warm and shows up to every single lesson with a smile. She has such a willingness to play and improve from the previous class which is why I look forward to her lessons!”
Keep smiling, Mia!
Wallace Betancur
This lighthearted and funny bass player started out as a piano player. What made him transition between the two, you ask? Summer Sessions! In his very first summer sessions, he watched the instructors demo different instruments and he immediately fell for the bass. It’s been three years and he is still loving it!
Wallace is a fan of not only the sound of the bass but also the foundational nature of the instrument. Remove the bass from a song? No way - it would be a completely different song! Music plays an important role in Wallace’s life. It brings connection and also helps him to get in the zone. For him, the feeling music creates is incredible, something you can’t find anywhere else. From an instructor standpoint, Jabez really appreciates Wallace’s work ethic. Says Jabez: “Wallace has been working on some really fast and technical bass lines (Sunflower - Vampire Weekend). He has shown patience in starting slow with a metronome and building up speed. At his age, he is showing a maturity in approach that is very rare and is seeing results.”
When Wallace is not tweaking bass lines, you’ll find him snowboarding, running around on the soccer field, and playing pickleball with his friends. He is also a reading fanatic, and is a huge fan of Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson. If he could describe himself in only three words, it would be funny, kind, and friendly. Describing Rock 101 in one word? STUPENDOUS!
Couldn’t agree more, buddy.
- Danielle Parker