Winning JamQuest band member tuning in to higher education

Kamron Bradbury

One year ago Kamron Bradbury couldn’t imagine he would be traversing a college campus on a full-ride scholarship. It’s a dream come true for him and his family after his high school band entered the JamQuest contest and walked off the stage with the top prize: full scholarships from Columbus State Community College for each band member.

While Kamron, 19, is the first to take advantage and hit the books, two fellow band-mates, Kyle Appel, 18, and Joey Thompson, 19, are making plans to enroll. Along with Luke Archibald, 18, and Ethan Gray, 19, the quintet is known as Though She Wrote—a self-described “post hard-core Christian” band. For the uninitiated it might best be described as high-decibel rock music with a searing Christian message.

"Though She Wrote"

The group began as a three-piece band but soon expanded to five members in 2006. At the time, three members were enrolled in the Bloom-Carroll School District while the other two attended Lancaster High School. All have graduated except Archibald who will get his diploma from Bloom-Carroll in June 2010.

Over the years, Though She Wrote has developed a loyal and expanding fan base. Its spin on Christian music, no matter how unorthodox it might seem to a traditional churchgoer, keeps the group tied up on weekends and summer breaks. Promoters typically have them booked in venues in Ohio and surrounding states.

While Kamron aspires to make it big in the music biz, he says he’s keeping himself grounded “by pursuing an education to have something to fall back on should the live concert scene falter.” For now, he is concentrating on business management at Columbus State. It’s a career in its own right and one that would complement Kamron’s musical talents should he remain in the music industry. Scouting for bands for a major record label is one of his career goals.

For now, Kamron continues to take it all in just months after the big win that opened up his new educational opportunities. The guitarist—who took only a few lessons and plays mostly by ear—says, “We entered the contest not knowing if we had a shot at winning. The grand prize of full scholarships just sounded too good to be true. However, we wanted the experience of playing at Lifestyle Communities Pavilion in downtown Columbus where the contest was held. It was an awesome experience to perform on the same stage where major artists play while touring.”

“The JamQuest event was very competitive. We didn’t know until our band was announced if it was actually possible to win because there were several other top-quality bands competing. I couldn’t believe it when we got the grand prize.”

While Kamron had not planned to attend Columbus State he feels he’s right at home. “I have two older brothers who graduated here. One was in the Fire Science program, and he’s now working for the Grove City Fire Department. The other went through the police academy at Columbus State and he’s now a deputy with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.” Still, it’s not without some effort. “College is more challenging than high school. You really have to keep yourself on track,” he says.

With his drive and determination, Kamron could eventually have the best of both worlds: a business career plugged directly into the music scene. And he’ll soon have close company. Lead vocalist Appel and bass player Thompson are both planning to cash in by using their scholarships beginning winter quarter. It’s clear that members of Though She Wrote are writing their own tickets to success.