Maypearl resident to attend prestigious graduate school

MEGAN GRAY

MAYPEARL - Local resident Lee Jarzembak has been awarded a scholarship to attend Juilliard Graduate School in New York City this fall.

Jazembak, a 2005 May-pearl High School graduate, competed, by invitation only, with candidates from across the country for the lone tuba opening Juilliard had available this year.

While at Maypearl High School, Jarzembak was an All-State tuba player and studied under Band Director David Mooney and Assistant Kenneth Caldwell.

Jazembak is graduating from Texas Tech this summer with a degree in Music, Performing Arts.

Among his many accomplishments, achievements, and awards at Texas Tech, Jazembak was a inaugural recipient of the Buddy Holly Memorial Music Scholarship.

"Waylon played a lot of bass guitar for Buddy," said Jazembak.

"You would be surprised by the similarities with the tuba! God bless Texas and Texas music."

The Julliard School was founded in 1905 as the Institute of Musical Art with the idea to establish a music academy in America to rival the European conservatories.

Augustus D. Juilliard, a wealthy textile merchant, died in 1919 leaving the largest single bequest for music advancement at the time.

In 1924, the trustees of the bequest founded the Juilliard Graduate School to help worthy music students complete their education.

"I’m very proud of him," said grandfather Ken Jazembak.