Boy wins autographed guitar at TSO performance

Zackary Koeller had barely heard the Trans-Siberian Orchestra before he attended last week's concert with his grandmother, Terry Bollinger. But by the end of the night the 9-year-old Jackson boy had an acquaintance with the group few can boast.

At the end of TSO's massively successful return to Cape Girardeau, Zackary received an early Christmas present -- he was given a guitar by the band, the back covered in tour stickers and signatures.

The gift was a surprise for Zackary, who was picked seemingly at random from an audience of thousands. When he was given the guitar, all Zackary could think to say was "Wow, thanks."

Zackary's grandmother was as surprised as he was. After the band's first set, she said, she was approached by the group's road manager in their fifth row seats.

"The road manager sits beside me and says 'If you don't mind, I'd like to borrow him for a minute,'" said Bollinger. Zackary was a willing participant, and was taken to a seat in the front row for the remainder of the concert.

"I was all for it," he said. "Then he told me I was going to get something. I though I would go on stage and get an autographed picture or something."

Instead of a photo, Zackary received an Epiphone Les Paul, worth much, much more. He also received some applause.

"I walked back to my seat and everybody was like cheering for me," Zackary said.

Zackary's mother and stepfather, Cory and Jason Ray, weren't there to see it. Mother Cory heard about the guitar over the phone with Zackary's grandparents after the concert.

Her reaction: "You've got to be kidding."

The event was no joke, but grandmother Bollinger thinks it could be more than coincidence. She just happened to purchase tickets on eBay, tickets she later found out were sold by a friend of the band. The family doesn't know the reason Zackary was picked, and they may never know.

"I guess they just found the closest kid who was not in the front row," Zackary speculated.

What Zackary does know is that now he's going to learn to play the guitar. His grandfather, Keith Ray, plays a variety of stringed instruments, including guitar, and has already started teaching the boy.

Zackary already likes rock and roll, so when he decides to start shredding, he's got a quality ax at the ready.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182