9/4/2016
Maggie Hradecky, RRStar

Emily Bear, 15, mingles with celebrities, matches talents with some of the country’s top composers and is a sought-after pianist in the music world. At age 6, she was the youngest recipient of the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and even performed at the White House. But you only have to spend a few minutes with the bubbly brunette to see she is a typical teenager — eager to hang with her friends and spend quality time with her family. And she loves the Rockford community. “It gives me a base. This is where my roots are, and my life here keeps me centered,” Bear said. “I love traveling, but I also love to come home to Rockford.” Bear travels a lot during the year, trips back and forth to New York City and Los Angeles for performances and to study with music teachers and mentors from the music industry, like legendary composer/producer Quincy Jones. The number of trips typically go down during the school year. “It just depends on what’s happening,” Bear said. “There could be a month break when I’m not doing anything.” And when she’s home, she tries to pack in as much fun as possible, even if it is just spending time at school. “Going to school is great — the whole social aspect of it,” Bear said. “I love going to homecoming and football games and being around my friends every day — it’s great.” Bear and her family have learned to balance Emily's traditional life with the nontraditional music life. A typical school day for the teen involves a few hours at school for core classes — math, English, science and history — then back to her home for the second part of her day: music training. That involves practicing for upcoming performances, Skype lessons with her orchestration and film scoring instructors, classical piano lessons, homework and daily chores. When she’s in New York City she takes classes in film scoring, music theory, classical and jazz piano at Juilliard and New York University. And if that wasn’t a full plate, she’s added singing and writing pop music to her repertoire — work that’s getting a lot of attention from music producers and major record labels in Los Angeles. She will be recording the new music this year. But no matter where she travels, Bear said Rockford is home, and there is no place like it. “Even though it is a city, it has a small-town feel. I like that everyone knows everyone,” Bear said. “It has definitely kept me down to earth. I have an appreciation for things that I probably wouldn’t have if I lived anywhere else.” Maggie Hradecky: 815-987-1367; mhradecky@rrstar.com; @maggiehrad Emily’s Picks: 10 places to love in the 815 Rock River: “I love the river. I love water sports, especially (West Rock Wake Park). It’s so much fun.” Pig Minds Brewing Co.: “That vegan restaurant is SO good. I don’t understand how they make it look like meat, taste like meat and taste so good.” Alchemy: “The food there is awesome.” JMK Nippon: “Sushi. So good.” Downtown Rockford and Rockford City Market: “I think the downtown is really, really cute. A bunch of the new shops that have opened up are really cool.” Dairy Depot: “Of course this is on the list. So good.” Discovery Center and Burpee Museum: “I used to love taking the classes at Discovery Center. We once dissected a cow eye — it was fun.” Valley Orchard: “It’s so cute there and the raspberries and blackberries are so, so good.” Zip Rockford at Alpine Hills: “We just went there for the first time, and it was just so much fun.” Coronado Performing Arts Center: “Of course this is on the list. It’s just gorgeous.”


For More Information:
http://www.rrstar.com/special/20160904/815-emily-bear-finds-harmony-at-home-in-rockford