From rocking chairs to rock ‘n’ roll, senior Audrina Senior found her love for music in the most unexpected place: Nebraska Furniture Mart. 

In December of her freshman year, Audrina accompanied her dad to Nebraska Furniture Mart. Bored and wandering through the store, she picked up an acoustic display guitar and started to strum. As her fingers danced with each string, she knew this was for her. Audrina joined The Colony School of Rock band, where taking lessons and performing live music with their band has become a part of her reality.

“Music is a different language — that’s how I see it,” Audrina said. “It has its own terms, [and] its own meanings to different people. I see it as people expressing their feelings.”

While music is her passion, she played the forward position in soccer from 3 years old until her freshman year. She missed soccer practices for band rehearsals and decided the sport wasn’t for her anymore.

“[Soccer and music] are completely different,” Audrina said. “But at the same time, as a band, you’re also a team. In that aspect, it’s kind of the same.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit during Audrina’s seventh grade year, she found her faith through TikTok. She bought her own Bible and started living by one phrase: “What would Jesus do?” 

“I’ve been a lot happier,” Audrina said. “I can see a big change in myself. I [started] picking up Christian music as I grew closer with God. That is around the time I really got into music.”

Only a few weeks after she started playing, Audrina trembled as she stood on stage for her very first performance at The Maverick, a sports bar in Carrollton. It didn’t have eye-catching lights the way it does now, so she was met with the stares of people watching her. 

“I get nervous before every show,” Audrina said. “It’s hard to overcome that [stage fright]. Even though I’ve played so many [shows,] I still get nervous every time. I’d say that’s very challenging for me because I always have the fear of, ‘What if I mess up in front of all these people.’”

At School of Rock, Audrina takes individual lessons and participates in band rehearsals where they prepare for performances throughout town. When Audrina first met Adam McGrath, her instructor of three years, he said that she had some of the best phrasing (how a musician stylistically chooses to play notes) in the entire school. Since then, he said her technique, especially her soloing, have improved tremendously. 

“Every kid’s got a different direction with what they want to get out of music,” McGrath said. “With Audrina, I want her to feel comfortable playing past School of Rock. The big goal is to do this yourself on big stages through college, so I’m not worried so much about being a perfectionist, just overall musicianship.”

Next year, Audrina plans to attend the University of North Texas. She said she hopes to perform at venues with other musicians in college.

The students at School of Rock come from various high schools in the area, giving Audrina the opportunity to meet new people. She first met Emma Howell when Howell — who was in middle school band — filled in for someone in her high school band. Once Howell joined the high school band, they immediately clicked. 

“Once we both figured out we’re strong in our faith, it boosted our friendship,” Howell said. “She has a light that people feel, but they don’t know what it is.” 

The display guitar that sparked Audrina’s interest three years ago turned into a Sonic Blue Stratocaster. Her coordination and timing are now something she’s proud of, and her teammates are now her bandmates.

“After the shows — once you realize how much time you put into it and all the songs — it’s rewarding to see your band come together and play in front of people,” Audrina said. “It’s so fun, I’ve made so many friends, I’m glad I did it; it did make me better.”

This story was originally published on The Hawk Eye on February 20, 2025.