Launching Stars, Inc has been established to provide music education to young, motivated students th He began to play with several bands and to write songs.
The Joshua Ogzewalla Music Scholarship has been established in memory of Joshua Ogzewalla, an accomplished musician and music fan. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide private music instruction to motivated, deserving students. Focusing primarily on rock and roll instruments and training (guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals), the scholarship will be awarded to students for a period 6 mo
nths. After the 6 month period is complete, students are eligible to re-apply, and priority consideration will be given to previous recipients that demonstrate passion, drive, hunger and desire for improvement and proficiency. The Slayer of the Void Music Education Program will occasionally produce master classes, seminars, provide peer to peer experiences and give the students chances to play with professional musicians. About Josh:
Joshua Ogzewalla was born in the spring of 1970, one of 6 children born to Nolan and Sharon Ogzewalla. He demonstrated a lifelong knack for humor and mischievous behavior. As a teenager, Josh discovered the guitar and with some hard work and personal investment, he bought a Fender Stratocaster and taught himself to play. Finding a guitar that suited his taste and needs was tricky, as Josh was left-handed and had very discriminating taste. With the new toy in his hands, he began consuming every kind of music. His passion for music took him across the United States a number of times, playing stages large and small. From house parties on back porches to South by Southwest; from bars, clubs, music halls, theaters, beaches, pastures, mountains and deserts- Josh was able to spread his music throughout the world. As Josh entered his 40s, he wasn’t quite feeling right. Something was wrong with his health. After a prolonged period of testing and minor procedures, Josh was admitted to the hospital in December of 2014. During a month-long stay in the hospital, it was discovered that his liver had almost completely failed and that he had terminal cancer. The doctors, with Josh’s input, made the decision to send him home to enjoy his last few days or weeks with his family. He was given anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month to live. Josh’s bandmates asked him what they could do to memorialize him. His reply was that he wanted to be known for helping get young rock musicians training and experience. Months went by. His health wasn’t good, but he kept hanging on. He kept his sense of humor and his defiant nature right until the end. But eventually there had to be an end. On April 10, 2015 Josh passed away peacefully with his family by his side.
