The volunteer scholarship committee of the Grimsby Public Art Gallery selected local trombonist Mikolaj Debowski for the Jess Rennie Scholarship.

The award is given in memory of the late Jess Rennie who was a founding member of the Grimsby Music Series. After Rennie's death in 2005, family and friends made donations to the series, which ended last year, in her remembrance. This $1,000 award is the third and final one to be given out.

Committee member Iris Garber said the committee had to make a difficult decision on whom to select for the award out of the applicants, but when they saw the determination, academic standing and the "all-around musical ability" of Debowski, the decision was unanimous.

"What impresses us is the hard work and determination he's shown us all through his school years. It has really impressed the committee. We already feel he is a very serious musician and he knows what he wants," she said.

Debowski, of Grimsby, has been accepted as one of only two trombonists at McGill University's Schulich School of Music.

Debowski said he's a little nervous about leaving for Montreal Aug. 23 to start his four-year quest to achieve his Honours degree in Performance.

"I've seen some of the trombone players from McGill and they're amazing," he said.

Nevertheless, he's confident in his playing, he said, adding instead of focusing on the challenges he's focusing on the outcome.

Influenced by his father who was an organ player, Debowski started playing piano at the age of seven.

Once he started high school, he was instantly attracted to the trombone, he said.

"I was just drawn to the instrument. I picked up the trombone and I knew that was the instrument I wanted to play," said the Blessed Trinity Catholic High School graduate.

After he completes his degree program, he's still deciding if he'll apply for graduate school or go on to play in a professional orchestra.

He does, however, have a long-term goal.

"I come from a Polish family, so to play in the Warsaw Harmonic would be a dream come true for me."