Imagine, if you will, an 11 year old boy who has been taking piano lessons since he was four and really wanted a better piano to practice on. His parents didn’t have the money to buy a piano but told him if he saved his money they would help him by meeting him halfway and pay for half of the piano. Well, he started saving his pennies and allowances and when he heard that he could purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a baby grand piano, he took what money he had saved and asked his parents if he could buy a raffle ticket. They supported his decision and he purchased one ticket. The rest of this story is the stuff made of dreams… HE WON! In fact, the music department at Southwestern Oregon Community College is proud to announce that Jeffrey Varga (11) of North Bend has won the Gulbransen baby grand piano from our piano raffle in a drawing that took place Monday (1/30/17) afternoon at 3:30 pm! He is extremely excited about winning this piano and is looking forward to playing on it in his own house very soon! His piano instructor Lynn Kuhn, who also teaches piano and other music classes here at Southwestern, had nothing but praise for his playing abilities and has even noted that after his most recent lesson, his excitement has increased his enthusiasm for performing in his lessons! All the proceeds from this raffle will be used to help defray the costs of the Southwestern Jazz Ensembles’ trip to New York City where they will participate in the NYC Jazz festival. For more information about our winner Jeffrey or the Jazz Ensembles’ invitation to participate in the New York City Jazz Festival at the historic Apollo Theater, you may contact Mike Turner (music department chair) at 541-888-7242 or mturner@socc.edu . Or visit our website for the story here: https://www.socc.edu/news-archives/958-southwestern-s-jazz-ensembles-invited-to-participate-in-the-nyc-jazz-festival
