Name: Sofia
Age: 17
Amber Service: Amber Music Awards
Instrument: Braille Music
17-year-old* Sofia receives an Amber Music Award for braille music lessons, which support her love for song composition.
‘I have a retinal dystrophy and I am registered as severely sight-impaired,’ says Sofia. ‘I have been song-writing since I was nine years old and I have always had a love for music and performing.’
‘I started learning the piano at seven, but reading sheet music was very difficult, and I found exams stressful with the pressure of sight reading. Music exams were taking the enjoyment of music away from me. I continued learning piano by ear, which is my most useful tool.’
‘Music and songs are my way to express myself’ Sofia
Sofia experienced some barriers related to her vision impairment when starting her music GCSE. ‘I didn’t feel I had the same access to resources and time to work through them as my peers. All the lessons were tailored to sighted people annotating scores.
I was encouraged to seek support in the blind community. This is how I met braille music teacher Kate Risdon and The Amber Trust.’
Sofia is one of 15 young musicians who currently receive an Amber Music Award for braille music lessons.
‘Without Kate and Amber, I wouldn’t be in the position I find myself in today.’ Sofia is proud to have reached Grade 8 in her Music GCSE exam.
‘I am currently training in musical theatre at The Brit School,’ says Sofia. ‘Braille music, and braille as a whole, has been so important in supporting my compositions and my current studies.’
*Age correct at time of publishing
To support other children like Sofia on their musical journey, please donate to The Amber Trust. Your support enables us to provide music opportunities to vision impaired children across the UK, including those with additional needs.