From the young age of 3, Cohen Roach (9) has been known to sing. While he was not the most talented 3-year-old performer to exist, over the past 11 years he has sharpened and honed his musical skills becoming a talented singer, pianist, and percussionist.
Roach’s love for music stems from his family. His dad was once a singer-songwriter, his mom has sung her whole life, and his brother works for a record label. Growing up with several musical role models Roach has always known his destiny to become a musician.
“I would hear music everyday in my life with them singing, and playing music,” Roach said. “Hearing it every day made me want to do it.”
His family has been a fundamental part of his journey to find himself through music. Encouraging him to learn more and express his feelings through performing, whether that be with them or by himself.
“When we get to sit down and play music, either solo or with each other, it’s a spot where we can calm down, let feelings go, and live in that moment,” Roach said.
Roach’s dad is currently a worship leader and this has opened many opportunities for him to perform alongside his dad at services. From playing drums to piano to singing at the services, Roach has loved performing with his dad and the growth that has come from performing on a live stage.
“It’s definitely helped with my development of learning songs quickly and learning music theory,” Roach said.
Alongside performing at his church services, Roach is also in Liberty’s baritone choir. Being in baritone choir has broadened Roach’s horizons by giving him the opportunity to perform new pieces.
“I’m in a choir with all boys, which makes it cool because I get to sing stuff I’ve never been able to sing before,” Roach said.
With music being Roach’s focus, he never thought that acting would be for him. His friends and family knew otherwise. So, in eighth grade they convinced him to do the musical.
“We were going to do ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and I said to him, ‘you would really fit as a theater kid,’” Peyton Bemis (9), Roach’s friend, said. “I think what clicked for him, since joining theater, is that he might be able to go into performing arts.”
Once Roach stepped into the stage’s spotlight, he found an immediate love for it.
“I fell in love with the process of learning my lines and spending time with my friends,” Roach said.
The love Roach found for being in musical-theater expanded to regular theater once he entered high school.
“It was definitely out of my comfort zone, because two years ago I thought I would never be able to memorize lines, and this whole show (Suite Surrender) was memorizing lines,” Roach said.
With years of hard work to develop his talent Roach has grown from an energetic 3-year-old singer to a talented and passionate performer.
