[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]BY CAROLYN TAMLER
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
April 23, 2014

What sets Sophia Duccini apart from many professional musicians is not only her age—just 18—but her own sense of what she creates as a singer/songwriter/musician. “I see my music as an extension of myself and my emotions. My songs often help me process through life and all the feelings that come along with it.”

Duccini began her journey as a musician at 11, taking piano lessons and becoming so skilled as a classical pianist that she was performing in piano competitions by the time she was 13. She continued taking classical piano lessons for five years.

She began writing instrumental piano pieces for fun at the age of 14. She commented, “I thought I might go into piano performance, but I wanted to be more creative.”

At 15, Duccini began teaching herself guitar because, she said, “I wanted to expand my horizons.”

A major turning point for Duccini happened that year, the summer of 2011, when she took a week-long intensive course in songwriting offered by Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. She wrote her first song and knew she wanted to do more writing and singing. She also added banjo, mandolin and harmonium to her repertoire. She admitted that she used to be a very shy person who was nervous about performing, but after her experience at Cornish, “I knew this was what I wanted to be doing.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ el_class=”.sidebar-wpbakery”][vc_column_text]

WLM
Launch
Party!

Sophia Duccini
will perform with
Gloria Ferry-Brennan

at 7 p.m.
on

Friday, April 25

at the
Launch Party
of WLM’s
first print edition.

These two talented young women will perform a varied program including five of Duccini’s original works. Check out one of her YouTube videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qxn69OF7EAA

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Sophia Duccini (photo courtesy of the artist)

Duccini says it’s not too surprising that she is so involved with music. She comes from a family of singers and musicians, including two of her grandparents, her father and two brothers. (Her sister is an artist). She believes she has derived a lot of passion and direction from the supportive attitude of her family.

Duccini was born and raised on Whidbey Island. She happened to be a next-door neighbor to another young woman who is a musical prodigy, Gloria Ferry-Brennan. Although they knew each other as children, they didn’t have much contact. But, in this last year, the two young women have come together after observing each other’s performances for many years. They had their first concert together at the Fremont Abbey in January and then played at “Sound Off!” at the Experience Music Project in Seattle.

The cover of Duccini’s EP (photo courtesy of the artist)

Duccini and Ferrry-Brennan are playing together now as often as possible and having great fun in the process. But they also realize they are young and will be going different places in the future. Duccini is planning to attend Shoreline Community College in the fall and major in graphic design. After she gets her AA Degree, she said, “I’ll see where things go for me.”

Duccini describes her music as “autobiographical, metaphorical experiences and feelings.” She added, “I hope my music can touch people. A song can help someone get through the hard times and have greater appreciation for the good times.”

Future performances by Sophia Duccini:

• May 2 ^– Western Washington University Higginson Festival of Music benefitting Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth
• May 3 ^– Abbey Arts presents CATHEDRALS VIII at St. Mark’s Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E, Seattle
• July 3 ^–  “Celebrate America” at Freeland Park on Whidbey Island

Carolyn Tamler was a marketing research and community involvement consultant in the Seattle Area for many years before moving to Whidbey Island, where she has become known as a writer who enjoys telling the stories about the many businesses and entrepreneurs on the island.

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