Sadie Bernard is not just a junior at University Prep, but she is also currently enrolled as a student at School of Rock, where she focuses on guitar and vocals.

With her dad a guitarist and her mom a classically trained singer, music was a constant in Bernard’s life from a young age. In seventh grade, Bernard became involved in School of Rock, a program that teaches students musical skills and gives them opportunities to perform. At School of Rock, Bernard was able to find a community that helped her manage stress.

“At that time, music was like a getaway. There was so much stress happening in my everyday life. Music was [a way] I could take my stress and emotions and turn them into something that was enjoyable for me,” Bernard said. 

Bernard’s emotional connection to music helped shape what kind of music she most enjoys performing. 

“If it’s got emotions in the instruments or the vocals, I love performing it because I love evoking emotion,” Bernard said.

Through School of Rock, Bernard has the opportunity to perform at many prominent venues in the Seattle area, including The Crocodile and The Showbox, as well as locales across the country. Bernard’s favorite all-time performance was at a venue called The Rave in Milwaukee, Wis. 

“I was singing a very intense song, standing up there in front of everyone, and everyone was singing back to me,” Bernard said. “It was an unbelievable moment.” 

Though many of Bernard’s performances, like her show at The Rave, have been positive experiences, she still faces challenges as a musician — especially as a female rock singer. 

“It’s been really hard, and it still is really hard to get men in the music industry to take you seriously,” Bernard said. 

Looking forward, Bernard hopes that music can be a part of her future career. 

“My dream job is to become a songwriter for big music labels and sell my music to artists,” Bernard said.

This dream, however, comes with some complications, as not all people, especially adults, perceive music as a serious career option. 

“Being a musician and being someone that wants to inspire others with music is kind of hard because it’s not viewed the same as any other job,” Bernard said. 

Despite certain challenges that come with choosing to pursue a career in music, Bernard knows that creating music will always be a part of her life.

“Music is my favorite thing in the world, so I want to keep doing it as much as I can,” Bernard said. “I get so much happiness from performing.”