Thursday, February 27, 2025
55.0°F

Young guitarist earns sponsorship for Music Conservatory of Coeur d'Alene

| January 31, 2025 1:00 AM

The Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene has awarded an Adam Benka Memorial Guitar Student Sponsorship of just over $1,000 to up-and-coming guitarist Josiah Babak, 11, a dedicated student of the Music Conservatory.

Mark Benka, a part-time resident of Coeur d’Alene, made a financial donation specifically for a promising guitar student in memory of his son, Adam, a guitarist who died Dec. 5, 2011, at age 22. He had just graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a degree in professional music. He was known as an enthusiastic and patient guitar instructor.

Josiah has been playing for about a year on a guitar his grandmother gifted to him. He began lessons with a former faculty member, Bobby Meador, and they worked on lots of fun arrangements. When Meador moved out of the area, faculty member Luke Webb took Josiah under his wing. "Blackbird" by the Beatles was the piece Josiah spent the most time on. He had a great deal of fun playing and learning the song.

“In Josiah’s latest chapter of his guitar journey, he is learning to read music,” Webb said. “He learned his first few songs very quickly, which included 'Silent Night' and 'Jingle Bell Rock' for the holidays. After showing success with Christmas tunes, he will now be attempting beautiful jazz melodies like 'My Buddy' and 'Autumn Leaves.'” Josiah said he loves guitar because it's fun to play.

"I would like to keep getting lessons because I love my teacher," Josiah said. "He is so nice and helps me when I get it wrong. In the future, I’d love to play for my church and for others.”

Josiah’s mom was initially able to fund her son’s music lessons with funding from the Empowering Parents Idaho program. When the allowance ran out, she asked the nonprofit conservatory if other financial assistance was available.

“We were fortunate to have the funds that Mr. Benka donated to be able to offer a student sponsorship to young Josiah,” Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene Executive Director Cynthia Newkirk said. “Mr. Benka was committed to keeping his son’s love of music alive by enabling a promising young student to grow. Josiah has such a sweet heart and is so deserving of this opportunity to continue his guitar lessons."

Josiah's mom, Elvera Babak, is a single parent. She said she is grateful for the support of this sponsorship, which means Josiah has the opportunity to be taught music as she once was.

"For me, music has always been a form of therapy and an outlet to express my feelings," Babak said. "I am so grateful that Josiah can continue his lessons.”

Benka said he was excited to hear that the Music Conservatory of Coeur d’Alene had found a deserving recipient to be awarded the scholarship.

“The Coeur d'Alene community is so fortunate to have an outlet like the conservatory to further the musical ambitions of our youth," he said.

Call 208-551-3933 or email registrar@cdaconservatory.org for details about how to help sponsor a student.