St. Peter’s award music scholarship to Laurel senior

The St. Cecilia Music Guild at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Lewes recently awarded its annual music scholarship to Paul Jones, a graduating senior at Laurel High School.

This $1,000 award is given to a senior who is going to major in music at college.

Jones, 18, will attend Delaware State University in September with a major in music education as he plans for a career as a high school teacher. He was involved in music activities at his school and in his community, playing trombone for four years in the school’s marching band and concert band, and three years in the jazz band, as well as teaching younger students.

“Initially, I picked up the trombone because all of the other instruments were taken, but now I can’t imagine what it would have been like to play anything else,” he said in his scholarship application. “I realized that I wanted to keep playing music, and with this instrument I have been able to meet mentors, teach, and perform with a purpose.”

He said his goals are to graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree in music education and to obtain his master’s degree while teaching. “I want to watch my students grow from the first notes they play on their instruments until they are ready to leave for college.”

The guild’s mission is to offer free public concerts by acclaimed musicians for eastern Sussex County residents, and it encourages talented high school seniors in the county by awarding an annual scholarship.