Fox Lake musician to perform at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
A former Grant High School student parlayed her lifelong love of music into a $5,000 scholarship and a performance front and center at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Rose Craig, a drum major with University of Illinois' popular Marching Illini band, was named the recipient of the 12th annual Bob Hope Band Scholarship Award. She will appear at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, and on television at 11:54 a.m. Thursday on NBC.
"I am incredibly excited," Craig said via telephone Wednesday as she traveled from New York to New Jersey for band practice. "It was a little shocking when it happened, but it's been an incredible experience."
The road to winning the scholarship started with a written essay that showed off her love of music and humor, she said.
Each of the 13 school marching bands participating in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade nominates one musician, auxiliary team member or drum major from their marching band program who best reflects the value and attributes that Bob Hope represented to millions of Americans, award organizers said. Those values and attributes include musical ability, leadership initiative, sense of humor, and a strong commitment to community service.
Craig's essay was selected to represent the University of Illinois and was sent to the Bob Hope scholarship committee for consideration.
"On behalf of the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, and particularly on behalf of my dad, Bob Hope, I want to congratulate Rose Craig on her compelling essay," said Linda Hope, daughter of the former actor and philanthropist. "I know that my parents would be very proud that such an accomplished and caring young woman was this year's scholarship recipient."
Craig said she began playing piano at the age of 3, then changed to trumpet after she joined the Grayslake Elementary District 46 band because "piano is so lonely."
Her family moved to Fox Lake during her high school years, and she played in the Grant High School band through graduation in 2012, Craig said.
She is due to graduate from the University of Illinois with a music education degree in May 2016.
Craig can play many instrument with some degree of success, she said, but added that the trumpet and piano are her main instruments.
"I am extremely proud of her," said Barry L. Hauser, assistant director of Bands and Athletic bands for the U of I. "She is one of those people that is a wonderful person and a very dedicated and talented musician. This shows fantastic things happen to great people."
Macy's and the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation have presented the Bob Hope Band Scholarship since 2003, officials said. As the winner, Craig receives a $5,000 scholarship award toward her education, while the school band program receives an additional $5,000.