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At an age where many of his peers were discovering Minecraft and finding it impossible to put down, Ashton Demers was discovering a fixation of a different kind.
“When I was 6, my parents gave my younger brother this fake plastic guitar,” the now-15-year-old recalled. “Our dad was trying to teach him ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ on it, but he wanted to play ‘real songs,’ so he gave up. Then I picked it up and had a lot of fun, so my dad taught me a few chords and then just left me on my own with it.”
Ashton learned a few songs by ear, then utilized YouTube for tutorials and chord progressions for the next few years, relying only on his own determination for the discipline to practice and improve.
“The first guitar he ever had belonged to my dad,” Ashton’s mother, Danielle Demers, said. “He used to just casually play around with the guitar with my husband, Justin, and my dad. Justin plays, but was never as serious as Ashton became. Right away, Ashton was very much an ‘I’m going to go play my guitar,’ instead of an ‘I’m going to go play my video games,’ kind of kid. After a few years, his interest had grown so much deeper that it was time to get him some professional training. We hired one of the worship pastors at our church to come to our house and give him lessons.”
Ashton’s musical education was finally catching up to his natural talent, and doors began opening for the then-middle schooler. He began playing guitar for the congregation at his church’s worship services, and his equipment was upgraded to reflect his skill.
“We got him his first really good guitar after his eighth-grade year,” Danielle said. “Now he has six or seven down in the basement where he practices. He has an electric drum set down there, his sister’s piano that he taught himself to play, and he’s always loved singing, too. He just has a really natural connection with music. His playing abilities are all (from) God, so we give that up to Him. His playing is his way of giving it over and letting go of anxieties and worries.”
While he enjoys the process of learning and has a disciplined practice schedule, Ashton admits he isn’t entirely a by-the-book player.
“Unless I’m playing acoustic, I’m not a big ‘chords’ guy,” he said. “I like riffing. And if I’ve listened to a song a few times, I can generally play it by ear. If it’s something new, I’ll have to look up the chords and learn to play it, but I mostly like just playing along.”
The country music fan enjoys listening as much as he loves to play, and stays on a steady diet of Morgan Wallen and James Arthur.
“I love music,” Ashton said. “It’s one of the biggest parts of my life. Even before I played guitar, music has always made me feel better, no matter what else is going on. I play soccer and I want to go far with that. I have a good chance at going to college for it, but I would love for music and soccer to both be ‘it’ for me. But, before any game, you’ll find me with my headphones on listening to music, getting focused. Music makes everything so much better.”
His love of combining music and sports collided in fortuitous fashion after he played the national anthem for Union Omaha.
“Once he was comfortable playing in front of them, I was like, ‘OK. Let’s grow into even bigger things,’” Danielle said. “First, he played the national anthem for a Creighton soccer game, then volleyball, then the University of Nebraska’s volleyball game, then (a) basketball game. He’s on everyone’s list. They know to call Ashton to open their events.”
“I would love to play the national anthem at a Husker football game, that’s my goal right now.” Ashton said. “I just need to find the right person to email and ask about that one!” Danielle added, laughing. But there is little reason to believe the teen won’t have to remove that one from his bucket list. With his determination and talent, the limit doesn’t exist.
This article originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
