Elmira Retired Music Teachers Fund
Jarod Parker knew he wanted to perform pretty early. As a child visiting Busch Gardens Florida he grew bored waiting for a show to start so he leapt on stage to dazzle the crowd with his own show of back flips and cartwheels. Since then this courageous young man has defied remarkable odds to further his stage credits. Throughout school he excelled in vocal and instrumental music, he participated in numerous school plays and capped his senior year with a rousing protrayal of Beast in EFA's spring musical, Beauty and the Beast. As an encore, the versatile tenor even pinch hit as conductor for EFA's final vocal concert when music teacher, Stuart McClean was unexpectedly called away.
Despite his remarkable talent, Parker needed a great deal of emotional and financial support to keep his dream alive. Enter Mary Jane Eckel, ubiquitous presense in the Elmira music community who frequently mentors students in the arts. Eckel brought Parker to the attention of fellow retired musician and teacher, Jean Schauffer.
"He needed help to attend the New York State Summer School of the Arts," recalls Schauffer. "One thing led to another and I decided to start a scholarship to give kids interested in music a chance to folllow their dream."
In 2010, Parker was the first recipient of a scholarship from the Elmira Retired Music Teachers Fund. He used it to attend SUNY Potsdam where he studies music education and voice. "This scholarship isn't based on academics," says Eckel. "It's for all sorts of creative kids who might not otherwise get a chance to reach their potential in college setting." Both Eckel and Schauffer express the hope that many more creaive professionals will add their strength and support to the fund so the next crop of talented kids can dream big.
