A Good Guy Finishes First

It's a long way from Waverly, Tennessee to Interlochen Arts Academy, especially as a transfer student attending for his senior year.

It took a special kind of moxie for Jake Rychen to achieve this, and this morning marked his graduation from the Academy.

This August, he begins his trumpet studies with the fabulous Michael Tunnel at the University of Louisville.

There is a world full of bad news out there, things that make us cringe, things that make us look to the future with real concern.

Then there are kids like Jake, who (with our support and encouragement) may yet turn the culture back in a good direction.

Kudos to Jake, his family, Interlochen and U of L for this morning's moment of inspiration.

And, a special shout-out to The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, who sends an examiner to his part of the world twice a year to hear students. Those exams provide a path to the outside world for kids like Jake, who exercise the ambition to prepare to the rigorous standards of ABRSM exams.

We all have a few bucks to donate, even in a recession.

Interlochen and U of L School of Music belong on the list.