Student Musician Finalist For Scholarship

A Tarpon Springs student is among the finalists for a prestigious Pinellas County scholarship program that highlights the performing arts.

Lamont Kaiser is one of two dozen Walker's Rising Stars. The Rising Stars program provides college scholarships to Pinellas County public high school juniors and seniors who are solo performers in the areas of dance, drama, vocal music, instrumental music, and visual arts and to groups of up to three students for Video Arts.

The scholarship is sponsored by Tampa Bay Area neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Walker and the Pinellas County Education Foundation.

Kaiser is a senior at Tarpon Springs High School and specializes in jazz instrumentation. 

The Rising Stars competition begins with an application and essay and concludes with finalists being invited to display their works or perform at the Walker's Rising Stars Scholarship Awards Show in May at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

Here's a portion of Kaiser's essay:

"I hear music in everything around me.  The rhythm of the tires on the road, the ceiling fan as I fall asleep; everything belongs to the symphony of life.  Everything has music in it.  Music is always in my head and in my heart."

The scholarship encourages the public to participate by voting for their favorite Rising Star. To vote for Kaiser or any other Rising Star simply go to this website and select their name. Voting ends on May 13.

The Rising Stars performance and winners reception will take place on Monday, May 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road.