Nearly 250 from the county and state arts and cultural community attended this special event where Morris Arts recognizes individuals and organizations noted for their outstanding accomplishments, commitment and contribution towards encouraging and fostering the arts in our community.
Held for the first time in the beautiful spaces of the Morris Museum and its Bickford Theatre, the event featured a convivial reception followed by the awards ceremony which also incorporated delightful performance by the Lakeland Youth Symphony (a local arts grantee of Morris Arts) under the baton of Debra Seftel and a performance by a 4th grade class from Normandy Park School demonstrating their skills in Scottish dance from the Multi Cultural Dance artist residency led by awardee Joanna Pang Atkins. The Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship Winner, precussionist Neil McNulty, was introduced as was the Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship winner, soprano Katherine Merwin.
It was an evening to be inspired.
Some photos from that special evening:
L-R: Awardees, John Pietrowski, Eileen Murray, Joanna Pang Atkins, Dr. James Gallagher, Neil McNulty, Paul Nusbaum, Dennis White, with Morris Arts Executive Director, Tom Werder; Morris Arts Board Member Dick Eger with Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship Winner, percussionist Neil McNulty and Tom Werder; Kay and Frank Failla of the Failla Foundation flank Morris Arts’ Kadie Dempsey, Director of Arts in Community.
L-R: Board Member Dick Eger with Morris Arts’ Finance Director, Anne Dodd, and Board Member Paul Mandel of the MCM Group at Morgan Stanley, event sponsor; Kevin O’Brien, Vice President, New Jersey State Council on the Arts; Dennis White, CEO and President of MetLife Foundation with colleagues Pamela Coffey (left), Sharon Gala (right) and Gina Moran, Morris Arts Development Director (on far right); Morris Arts Board President Tom McMillian with Paul Mandel of the MCM Group at Morgan Stanley, event sponsor, with Gina Moran, Morris Arts Development Director.
L-R: Paul Nusbaum, Board President of Zufall Health Center, Dover with colleagues; Morris Arts’ Administrative Program Assistant, Caitlyn DeLaura, with Janet Darrow, long term Morris Arts volunteer; Morris Arts Board member Beatriz P. Bueno with Eric Hafen, Artistic Director, Bickford Theatre; Carolyn Hunt, teaching artist for Girls Surviving with Dr. James Gallagher and Phyllis Hassard.
L-R: Former Madison Mayor Woody Kerkeschlager, Rick Engler, Director of Marketing, Shakespeare Theater of NJ; Eric Hafen, Artistic Director, Bickford Theatre with John Pietrowski, Artistic Director, Playwrights Theatre of NJ; Morris Arts Director of Arts in Community Kadie Dempsey with her husband, artist and program designer, Dan Fenelon; the McNulty Family with Ehlers Scholarship winner, Neil McNulty (in middle); John Pietrowski with John McEwen, Executive Director of the NJ Theatre Alliance.
To see the Scottish Dance performed by 4th graders at Normandy Park School, students in Joanna Pang Atkin’s multicultural dance residency, click HERE and HERE.
To enjoy an excerpt from the performance by the Lakeland Youth Symphony conducted by Debra Seftel, click HERE.
To read more about
The Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship Winner – Neil McNulty, click HERE
The Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship Winner – Katherine Merwin, click HERE
Outstanding Arts Advocate -Dr. James Gallagher, click HERE
Outstanding Arts Advocate -The Failla Foundation, click HERE
Outstanding Arts Organization -Playwrights Theater – John Pietrowski, click HERE
Outstanding Arts Educator/School – Joanna Pang Atkins, click HERE
Outstanding Corporation – MetLife Foundation, click HERE
Outstanding Professional in the Arts – Eileen Murray, Director of Matheny Arts Access Programs, click HERE
Special Recognition winner – Zufall Health Center, Dover, click HERE