Music has the power to move us, and it has the ability to stop us in our tracks. Rochester sixth grade student Cecilia Prefontaine belongs to the latter category.

Cecilia was one of two Rochester Memorial School students who benefited from the Brendan M. McGee Music Scholarship, now in its 11th year.

Founded in 2003, the music fund awards scholarship money to purchase a musical instrument for a band member who wants to continue his or her music career at the junior high school.

Cecilia was awarded a bass clarinet before school let out for the summer.

“She told me, ‘Last night I just opened it up and stared at it for five minutes thinking I can’t believe I got it,” Cecilia’s mom, Sarah, said.

Sarah told the scholarship’s benefactors, Rochester’s Bob and Maggie McGee, that her daughter started practicing with the instrument soon after. On the instrument's carrying case a small plaque signifies that it was donated in memory of Brendan McGee. A former member of Old Rochester Regional High School’s band, he was Bob and Maggie’s son, and he had a passion for playing the drums. Brendan passed away in September 2003.

The second student to earn the scholarship was Abigail McCarthy. McCarthy was awarded a trumpet.

Donations to support the fund can be mailed to: Bob and Maggie McGee, 91 Paradise Lane, Rochester, MA 02770. Make checks payable to: Town of Rochester.