November 6, 2023
November Voice Student of the Month – Eva Oñate
This November, we’re excited to feature CCM voice student, Eva Oñate, as our Student of the Month! Eva has been taking voice lessons at CCM for 2 years with teacher Breanna at our Sunnyvale location! Eva puts a consistent effort into her voice lessons and practice, and her passion has grown as a result. Teacher Breanna says she always comes to class prepared, has a great attitude, and is consistent with repertoire practice – all while balancing musical theatre as well! On top of her lessons she will be preparing for her Level 2 RCM exam in the new year. At a young age, she understands the importance of always auditioning no matter the outcome and how important the whole team is in putting on a musical, which is a big lesson to learn at her age!
Student of the Month – Eva Oñate
What is your name?
My name is Eva Oñate.
How old are you?
I am 10 years old.
Who is your teacher?
My teacher is Teacher Breanna.
How long have you been taking voice lessons?
I have been taking voice lessons for two years.
What advice would you give to a voice student just starting out at CCM?
I would say to try your best and give your best effort. To practice and work hard.
What song are you looking forward to learning someday?
I am looking forward to learning “Tomorrow” from Annie.
What is your favorite thing about singing?
I love singing because I get to be someone else. I get to act and I like that because I get to express myself in a way that is not exactly me, but has a little bit of me in it.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is Cajun Fries from Lazy Dog.
Do you have a pet?
I have 2 pets. A cat named Simon, and a fish named Kiwi.
Do you play any sports or do any other activities outside of music lessons?
I used to do ballet, but I recently stopped to focus on musical theater. I have done ballet ever since I was 2 years old. Now, theatre is the best experience ever for me because I get to do all the things I love to do. I get to sing, act, dance, and spend time with friends. The past theatre shows I have done are “Madagascar Jr. A Musical Adventure” and “Junie B. Jones Jr.”
What do you want to be when you grow up?
When I grow up I want to be a professional actor on Broadway.
What is your most memorable experience at CCM?
My most memorable experience at CCM is when I am in the spotlight during recitals.
Parent Spotlight – Amanda Oñate
Regarding vocal instruction, what are you most proud of your child accomplishing?
I am most most proud of Eva building up her confidence for performing in front of an audience. She has truly transformed through her vocal instruction, taking on new characters, refining her technique, and broadening her vocal range. It’s been a tremendous joy to witness her growth.
What advice would you give a new parent starting in the program?
Encourage your children to stay consistent. There may be times where they feel frustrated or discouraged, but it’s often in working through that song or musical piece that they reach a new level of skill, learn new techniques, and their passion for music grows.
Why did you decide to give your child a musical upbringing?
Music has been such an important part of my life, I wanted to make sure it was part of Eva’s as well. I’ve tried to expose her to as many different genres as possible so that she can understand that music can be beautiful in many forms, and that through music we can express ourselves when our words otherwise fall short. Eva has enjoyed singing since she was able to talk, so it seemed inevitable that she would take vocal lessons at some point. We are very lucky to have found her such a fantastic experience at CCM under Teacher Breanna’s instruction.
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