We're Eliza, Rachel, and Andrew, and we're musicians from Idaho. This summer, we have the opportunity to study with Prof. Monte Belknap (Violin Faculty, Brigham Young University) at Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival, and we're raising funds to help our family be able to afford this experience. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!

Eliza: I’m a musician, student, and fiddle player from Idaho. Music has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Beyond music, I love to crochet blankets and small creatures for my friends, ski, and spend time with my pet hedgehog. I also have a passion for traveling—I’ve visited Paris, Mexico, and Guatemala, where I had the incredible opportunity to go three times with the World Ukulele Project. I’m graduating from high school this year and plan to study music education at Boise State University. My goal is to become a music teacher and provide a supportive learning environment for students. I also hope to offer free or low-cost lessons to those who might not otherwise have access to private instruction. I started playing violin, fiddle, and guitar when I was four years old, and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’m currently the concert mistress for the Borah High School Chamber Orchestra and the Boise Philharmonic Symphonic Honors Orchestra. This year I was invited to represent my high school in the Idaho All-State Orchestra and the All-Northwest Orchestra. I also play in my family’s bluegrass band, Fiddle Express, where we perform a mix of bluegrass, country, folk, and Western swing. I am a State, Regionals, and National Fiddle Champion. I love to go to Weiser Idaho each year and participate in the National Old time Fiddle Contest. I have first place at 15 certified fiddle contests. Through the National Festival of Music, I have earn 13 consecutive years in Superior Ratings - Earning me the Presidential Cupin classical violin. This summer, I am excited to learn more from Professor Belknap. He was a delight to meet at BYU!

Rachel: Rachel Beck, 17, is a gifted fiddler and vocalist from Melba, Idaho, known for her expressive swing style, rich vocals, and charismatic stage presence. A standout in the sibling trio Fiddle Express, she began performing at age three and recently contributed vocals and fiddle to their latest album, Musical Rizz, which blends bluegrass, swing, and Western roots with a modern edge. Rachel has earned several top honors, including first place in the Junior Fiddle division at the Idaho State Fiddle Contest and announced as the alternate in the 2024–25 Idaho State MTNA Senior Competition. She was also one of only a few violinists from Idaho selected to participate in the prestigious 2025 NAfME All-Northwest Orchestra. Rachel has been an active member of the Boise Philharmonic Symphonic Youth Orchestra for the last 4 years. Rachel has participated in humanitarian outreach through the World Ukulele Project, traveling to Guatemala to teach music to children in underserved communities. Outside of music, Rachel enjoys painting, skiing, and rafting—activities that reflect her creative spirit and love for the outdoors. She has studied classical violin with Jenny Iroga for ten years and currently trains under Craig Purdy, a professor at Boise State University. Her fiddle mentor of seven years has been national champion Matthew Hartz. Looking ahead, Rachel plans to study music education with an emphasis in violin.

Andrew: You could say music runs in my family. I started playing Suzuki violin when I was 2 1/2 years old. Both of my grandmothers play violin. I took 3rd place at the National OldTime Fiddle Contest Small Fry in 2018 and am the 1st place Jr winner of the Northwest Regionals. I have also won many state fiddle and mandolin contests, including the Youngest Fiddler. I am the Idaho State and Western Open Picking Champion for 2024. I also play mandolin and guitar in my family band, Fiddle Express. Our latest album, Musical Rizz was released in 2024 and can be heard on all major music platforms. I personally produce all of our band's music: https://fiddleexpress.com/ For the last four years, I have participated in the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra as a violinist. I have chosen to represent my high school at Idaho All-State and All-Northwest. Professor Belknap was fantastic, and I am excited to learn more from him! Outside of music, I love to play chess. I am a Idaho State Chess Champion. I am so grateful for my mentor from Bosnia, that teaches me about chess over zoom every Tuesday morning. I am an avid skier. My family goes every week to Bogus Basin. I love living out in the country, especially because we have chickens, ducks and a turkey.

Thank you for contributing toward our remaining costs to attend LSM!

Note from LSM: Thank you for supporting Eliza, Rachel, and Andrew toward attending LSM! You are welcome to contribute through this webpage, or if preferred, you may mail a check to LSM. If you contribute online through this webpage, please note that Givebutter will add a charge for an online processing fee and a "tip" to Givebutter. You may opt out of both of these fees, and your full contribution will still go toward Eliza, Rachel, and Andrew (LSM covers the fees if you don't). To mail a check (and avoid online processing fees), make the check out to "Lutheran Summer Music," with "Eliza, Rachel, and Andrew" in the memo line. Mail checks to LSM, PO Box 8687, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Thank you for supporting these wonderful students!

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM) is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school students. In addition to advanced musical instruction and numerous performance opportunities, LSM students form an intentional community, living together for four weeks on a Lutheran college campus. Since 1981, this unique and immersive program has guided the lives of young musicians who credit LSM as the starting place for their future careers and vocations.

LSM was founded to celebrate and extend the rich musical heritage of the Lutheran church. Our founders believed that by providing high-quality training and performance opportunities to young musicians they could cultivate a lifelong love of classical and sacred music, thus preserving these art forms for generations to come.

Beck Family - LSM 2025 Tuition

By Lutheran Summer Music

Beck Family - LSM 2025 Tuition

Help Eliza, Rachel and Andrew get to LSM!