This is Connor Luedtke.

The first thing that strikes you about Connor is his soft spoken demeanor. Once you begin to talk to him, however, that impression changes. It turns out Connor’s greatest wish is to become a musician like his heroes, Carlos Santana, Tito Puente, and Earl Scruggs. Despite an initial shyness, Connor is not only comfortable performing in front of a large audience, but dreams of doing it for a living.

This is a story about dreams and passions, and a pure love of music.

Who is Connor Luedtke? Connor grew up just outside of Omaha, Nebraska, and attends a high school of 500 students. When he was 12 years old, he happened to watch a video of guitarist Carlos Santana performing at the famous Woodstock music festival. Instantly, Connor decided he wanted to do something like that some day. Connor admires musicians like Santana, Puente, and Scruggs “because they are all pioneers and innovators of their instrument”. Luedtke plays percussion, guitar, and banjo.

It is not so uncommon for a famous actor or musician to come from small town roots. Stars such as Britney Spears, George Clooney, and Taylor Swift were raised in towns with populations as small as 2,500.

Of course, what makes Connor interesting is his incredible love and passion for music. It is rare to see a teenager so committed to their dreams.