WL senior receives Zamora scholarship

Sam Craig, a senior at West Lafayette High School, was this year's winner of the Tony Zamora Scholarship.(Photo: Emma Ea Ambrose)

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Christopher Cooper's feet were constantly in motion during Sunday's presentation of The Jazz Club's Tony Zamora Scholarship at Carnahan Hall, keeping rhythm with some inaudible tune.

Cooper was last year's recipient of the scholarship and turned out to help present this year's award to Sam Craig, a bass player at West Lafayette High School.

The scholarship was founded in honor of Zamora, a distinguished jazz musician who served as director of Purdue University's Black Cultural Center for 15 years. The $500 award is presented annually to a local high school jazz musician nominated by a band teacher or private instructor.

The nominees are evaluated on several criteria, according to Danny Weiss, co-chair of the scholarship fund.

"It's based on who we thought had the best tone, best sound and ideas and the most compelling rhythm," Weiss said.

The award is to be used in any capacity the recipient wishes, so long as it is utilized to further an education in jazz.

"Jazz is like learning a foreign language," said Don Seybold, the other co-chair of the scholarship committee. "The idea is to put yourself in a position to speak that language with people who speak it better than you do."

Cooper recently used the award to take a trip to Portugal with the Purdue University Jazz Band. He is currently studying math and computer science at the university.

"It was fun to see other jazz musicians play there an experience the culture," Cooper said.

Craig isn't yet sure how he'll use his scholarship money. He's still deciding where to attend college, a choice he must make in the next three weeks.

Craig said he is choosing between Butler University, Carnegie Mellon University and Oberlin College. Purdue is off the table because it doesn't offer a music program, he added.

Craig said he knows wherever he ends up there will be ample opportunity to use the funds because music and jazz will forever be an integral part of his life.

"I just really love the freedom of it," Craig said.

 Call J&C reporter Emma Ea Ambrose at 765-431-1192. Follow her on Twitter: @emma_ea_ambrose.

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Source: WL senior receives Zamora scholarship