Hello!
My name is August Siefkes, and I'm the musician behind 8th Month Music! I'm currently a junior at Kansas State University majoring in music performance (percussion, collaborative piano, organ) and minoring in business. At K-State, I am a member of "The Pride of Wildcat Land" marching band, wind ensemble, and percussion ensemble. I also serve as the treasurer for the K-State Percussive Arts Society and as a member of the collaborative pianist team for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. One of my proudest accomplishments at K-State is being a member of the Akadiddles Percussion Trio along with two of my closest friends.
Outside of school, I play piano and organ for two churches: Peace Lutheran in Manhattan and First Presbyterian in Junction City. I've also recently started teaching piano lessons at Inner Forte Music School. On the business side, I work as an office aid and front of house staff for McCain Auditorium.
Besides music, I love to crochet, bake, go on walks, build Legos, spoil my cat, and be a goofball with my partner.
My Story
In late 2012, I started taking piano lessons. From the moment my hands first graced the keys, I was in love. I’ve always been an introverted person. Playing music gave me a way to express myself in a way that didn’t require me to talk or fight to get my opinions acknowledged. When I am behind an instrument, that introversion vanishes.
When it came time to choose an instrument for fifth grade band, my piano teacher at the time pushed me to pursue percussion. I then began to exuberantly - as my family calls it - “hit things with sticks.” My love for music only grew as I started to take percussion lessons with a teacher whose passion for music is out of this world. His passion and teachings ignited my spark for music into a burning inferno. As my interest and skills intensified I felt drawn to find other students with similar ambition. With the help and advice of my teachers I’ve worked to find other opportunities that stretch my musical repertoire and extend my network of fellow musicians. Music has offered me so many valuable opportunities.
In high school, I had the honor of performing in several prestigious ensembles:
– 2020 KMEA All-State Orchestra
– 2022 KMEA 1234A Band
– 2023 KMEA 56A Band
– 2022 John Philip Sousa National Honor Band
– 2023 All-American D-Day Band
I also took part in the 2023 International Piano Professionals Association Conero Festival, where I earned gold in the Midwest Region of the U.S. Division.
In fall 2023, I began my studies at Kansas State University, adding organ to my arsenal in the spring of 2024. In spring 2025, I was honored to receive the Pi Kappa Lambda Outstanding Sophomore Music Major Award. These first two years have been a blast, and I’m excited to see what the next two will bring!
But more than the resume lines, music has given me something deeper: community. It truly takes a village to raise a musician—directors, professors, peers, community members, and mentors. These are the people who’ve celebrated my successes and helped me learn from my failures. Their support has shaped who I am.
All these experiences add to my joy and drive me to do more, share more, and give more. And that, dear reader, is why you’re reading this now. I hope our paths cross—and that our collaboration lifts us both up.
Cheers,
August
