01/03/2026
Our Story:
“Through his music, he left a part of himself that will not fade away.”
The Rock On Reikin Memorial Music Fund was established on January 2, 2025 in loving memory of our 19-year old son and brother, Reikin Reynolds, who tragically passed away in July 2024. Music was Reikin's passion, both as an aspiring guitarist and vocalist. To honor Reikin’s remarkable legacy of kindness, as well as his immense love for music, we created this fund to preserve his memory by supporting aspiring young musicians with the gift of music. The Rock On Reikin Memorial Music Fund will provide financial support to area youth for instrumental lessons and classes through Beat City School of Music.
A 2022 graduate of Cuba-Rushford High School, Reikin went on to earn an associate’s degree from the Electrical Construction and Maintenance Electrician program at Alfred State College in 2024. He was also involved in several charitable activities throughout his time in high school and college, including spending his time volunteering weekly in the cat shelter at Joyful Rescues, an animal shelter in Allegany County. Reikin took great pride in his employment at Pleasant Valley Greenhouses & Nursery, where he worked since high school as well.
Reikin purchased his first guitar at the age of 16. His dedication to the instrument quickly took off, and music became his language. Initially inspired by rock and roll icon, Buddy Holly, Reikin enjoyed a wide variety of genres from all decades. He started teaching himself oldies and songs by the likes of Green Day and Blink-182 before turning to Beat City Music to fine tune his craft. Once Reikin found his love for playing the guitar, he paid regular visits to Beat City before deciding to enroll in private lessons at Beat City School of Music. The guidance he received from the staff to help him gain more knowledge, confidence, and skill in his journey to becoming a better musician, truly meant a lot to Reikin and helped him grow so much as a musician. Discovering music, playing the guitar, and singing awakened the artist in our son and illuminated the brightest light in his soul! We hope this fund can instill the same level of creativity and happiness in other young musicians looking to learn an instrument as it did in Reikin. The fund will support various areas of musical education for youth, such as enrichment classes, private and group instrumental lessons, purchasing instruments available for renting and more.
Music may be the focal point of the scholarship, but the essence of who Reikin was and what his legacy should be is the driving force behind the fund. At his core, Reikin had a beautiful giving and generous heart. Compassion ran through his veins, and he genuinely wanted those around him to feel special, accepted, happy, but most of all, loved. Reikin was just a wonderful, loyal young man who was willing to lend a helping hand to family, friends, and animals in need without hesitation or personal gain.
Since the inception of the Rock On Reikin Memorial Music Fund, we have been able to award 33 individual scholarships that have included introductions to group courses for specific instruments as well as several months of private individual lessons for each of 7 students. The students have ranged in ages from 6-19 years old. These scholarships have allowed us to introduce our youth to a variety of instruments, including the ukulele, guitar, mandolin, saxophone, cello, trumpet, and clarinet. We had an incredible first year, and we are looking forward to the success that awaits us in 2026!
We could not have accomplished any of this without the generous support from all of you! You have helped to honor and preserve the memory of our sweet Reikin while enabling his scholarship to thrive. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Rock On, from Reikin's Family,
Christie (Mom), Leo (Dad), and Christianna (Sissy) Reynolds ♥
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