(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Sam Pitcher Memorial Scholarship Fund announced that three students have been selected to receive 2023 Sam Pitcher Music Scholarships. Clyde Lamon, Tristan Lemerond, and Torran Urquhart will each receive a $1,000 scholarship. All three are students at Schoenbar Middle School and all plan to use their scholarship to attend Sitka Fine Arts Camp.

L to R: Tristan Lemerond, Torran Urquhart, and Clyde Lamon. Photograph by Jamie Karlson

Seventh grader Clyde Lamon plays both the electric guitar and the clarinet. He plays guitar in the Schoenbar Jazz Band and clarinet in the Schoenbar Concert Band. Additionally Clyde has performed in First City Players’ productions and at The Monthly Grind. He is currently taking private lessons from Chazz Gist who praised Clyde’s professional attitude when Gist called on him at the last minute to play guitar with the house band for this year’s Divas and Divos Show. Clyde hopes to continue studying and playing with more experienced musicians which will help him to continue to improve his skills. Clyde is the son of Lindsay and Brian Lamon.

Eighth grader Tristan Lemerond started playing the trumpet just a little over a year ago. Schoenbar music teacher Jamie Karlson states that he has shown great growth during this time and now plays lead trumpet with the Schoenbar Jazz Band. Tristan hopes to continue to be challenged and to improve his skills on the trumpet. Tristan is the son of Anne Marie Mestas and Christopher Lemerond.

Torran Urquhart is also an eighth grader. Torran plays the piano with the Schoenbar Jazz Band and percussion in the Schoenbar Symphonic Band. He hopes to continue to improve his skills, especially his improvisation skills, learn to play different styles of music, and overall become a better pianist. Torran has benefited from private lessons with Austin Hays. He is the son of Frankie and Bill Urquhart.

Scholarships are awarded to these students on the basis of merit, goals, and musicianship. A Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council advisory committee administers the scholarship program.

The Sam Pitcher Music Scholarship Fund was started following Sam’s death in 2003 at age 16. Sam’s passion was music. He participated in all the Kayhi bands, the McPherson jazz bands, and The Rubber Band. Sam attended both Sitka Fine Arts Camp and Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan. Ketchikan students in grades 7 – 12 are eligible to apply for scholarships to attend summer music programs like the ones Sam enjoyed.

Two $500 scholarships were first awarded in 2004. In this 20th year, 89 scholarships have been awarded resulting in approximately $50,000 being distributed to recipients. The Sam Pitcher Memorial Scholarship Fund is a fiscally sponsored project of the KAAHC. (Ketchikan Area Arts & Humanities Council)

 

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