The Federal Way Chorale announced that Elizabeth Chamberlain is the recipient of the 2014 Federal Way Chorale “Don Barrows Memorial” Scholarship. Chamberlain will receive $2,000 toward her college degree in music education at Western Washington University in Bellingham.

Chamberlain is a graduating senior at Thomas Jefferson High School with a 3.95 GPA. She also participated in Running Start full-time and achieved an Associates Degree with an emphasis in education.

She was a kindergarten volunteer through Sunnycrest Elementary and wants to inspire kids to love music. Her mother, a single parent and pastor at Calvary Lutheran Church in Federal Way, is her inspiration.

Not only did Chamberlain believe her mother appreciates the economic advantage of receiving a degree through the Running Start program prior to college admission, but also credits her mother as supporting her decision to pursue her dreams – music education. Chamberlain says that “you always learn from those you teach.” She wants to come back to the Seattle area to teach music at the elementary level.

Chamberlain has also been involved in musical theater at Thomas Jefferson, noting, “… It has brought out so much in me.”

Her favorite vocalist is Julie Andrews and shelves soundtracks from musicals, such as Les Miserables.  When asked what song she would perform if she were on American Idol, her quick response was, “What I Did for Love” from A Chorus Line.

Join the Federal Way Chorale in awarding this honor to Chamberlain by attending the scholarship ceremony at the upcoming Federal Way Chorale concert – “Songs of Love – from Brahms to Billy Joel to The Beatles” May 17 (7:30 p.m.) and May 18 (4 p.m.) at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (515 S. 312th, Federal Way).

Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets www.brownpapertickets.com/event/616620, through the Federal Way Chorale’s website www.fwchorale.com, or at the door.