Kooper Rooks knows firsthand the profound impact that music can have on a person’s wellbeing. From stress reduction to pain management, music was one of the things that kept the sophomore inspired during his journey to becoming a childhood cancer survivor.
“Anybody who has ever had a hard time, I guarantee they had an artist or some kind of musician that they listened to to help them either deal with their problems or really feel what they’re feeling through someone else’s experience,” he said.
The Hartselle native was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was 13. Over the years, Rooks received treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee — part of which included music therapy. He would have piano lessons, have piano played for him when he was having hard times and did activities that coincided with physical therapy, like drumming on a yoga ball to help with mobility.
“Being able to use music as a healing component to my treatment was game-changing,” he said. “They also had a really cool chair that played music throughout it and your body could feel every instrument in the song. That was probably the coolest thing I had ever seen.”
Rooks has been cancer-free since February 2019 and was declared officially cured in July 2024 ahead of the start of his second year at the University of Montevallo. For a long time, he was set on becoming a veterinarian or a teacher. Having been involved in choir and theatre in high school and personally experiencing the positive effects of music therapy, his journey inspired a new career path.
“My senior year, me and my high school theater teacher were talking about jobs that could combine music and working with young people while still being able to work in the medical field like I wanted,” he said. “We came up with music therapy, and my choir teacher at school had nothing but praise for Montevallo’s music program. It was the perfect place for me to be.”
Rooks also wanted to take advantage of UM’s financial aid offerings. He is a recipient of the Montevallo Academic Leadership Scholarship and a music scholarship.
“That’s another huge reason why I chose Montevallo, because the opportunity for scholarships is incredible,” he said. “There is no way that I would be able to afford college if I didn’t have my scholarships.”
On campus, Rooks is a Montevallo Maven, a member of the University Concert Choir and was part of Purple Side’s pit chorus last year. Once he earns his bachelor’s degree, he plans to attend Florida State University to get a master’s in music therapy and hopes to return to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital one day to work as a music therapist.
“It always made me feel better after having had the music therapy session,” he said. “I dream of being able to give that moment of relief and clarity to a child battling cancer.”
In the meantime, Rooks is cherishing the academic environment here at UM. His favorite experience so far has been with his professors, who he commends for making students feel valued and acknowledged.
“I had a class last term with Dr. Jody Landers in music theory, and every single day I left with a smile on my face,” he said. “He just knew how to cheer us up because music theory is not easy, and he always managed to make it a fun experience. Our professors do a great job of making you feel appreciated for showing up to class and genuinely try to make connections with you as a student. When you have so many people that are willing to pour into you, what else do you feel other than that you belong?”
