By Dave O'Brien
Record-Courier staff writer
David Jaramillo, an Ecuadorian pianist, is the first recipient of a talent-based scholarship funded by Joe Walsh, a former Kent State University student and member of The Eagles rock band.
Jaramillo traveled from Ecuador to Ohio to audition for the performing-arts scholarship and impressed the selection committee with his performance.
Walsh attended KSU from 1965 to 1968. He later dropped out to join his first band, the James Gang. In a statement released by KSU, Walsh said "In terms of a career, I got one ... And that was a direct result of my time at Kent."
"I couldn't have gotten a scholarship based on my academic ability, but I blossomed at Kent," he said. "And I just think there may be some other people at Kent I could help."
John Crawford, associate dean of KSU's College of the Arts and a member of the six-person selection committee, said each of nine applicants in the areas of dance, theatre and music went through one preliminary audition. But for the final audition, the selection committee needed to see each of the prospective recipients.
Jaramillo selected 20th Century Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev's Sarcasms Opus 17 No.'s 1, 2 and 3 for his audition and impressed the judges.
"They are very difficult pieces, I heard his audition, it was a very complex piece of music he performed and he did so beautifully," Crawford said.
The scholarship is intended to pay up to $10,000 a year for up to five years for tuition and fees, according to KSU. Walsh was not involved in the selection process, but "allowed us to choose the person based on the performance," Crawford said.
"An exceptional pianist," Jaramillo has accepted the scholarship and should be attending KSU this fall, he said.
The scholarship also is meant for a student with strong performance skills who might not otherwise be able to afford or attend college.
"If they're in a creative community like Kent and Kent State, and I can help them stay there until they blossom, that's what I'm trying to do," Walsh said.