State Representative Aaron Michlewitz and the North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) today announced the first two Geraldine Marshall Memorial Scholarships, representing two full tuition scholarships for private music lessons.
The Geraldine Marshall Memorial Scholarship was created by Michlewitz in honor of his late mother. A lifelong North End resident, Marshall had a passion for the arts and a desire to share that passion with children. The scholarship fund serves to carry on her memory and to continue her influence on the arts and the lives of children in the North End.
This year’s recipients are Ferdinand Carangelo of the North End and Dinero Jelley of the West End. Ferdinand, will utilize the funds to continue his second year of instruction in piano with instructor Cindy Giron. Dinero, who is a regular performer in NEMPAC’s Music Theatre Troupe, will use the funds to expand her musical interests to include guitar lessons with instructor Jeremy Sarzana.
“Growing up, my mother instilled in me a value in the arts that was of equal importance to any core academic subject,” said Representative Michlewitz. “She was herself an avid patron of the arts, who firmly believed they were a critical component in facilitating ones expression, connection and growth. It’s my hope that the scholarship will be able to allow students the same opportunities my mother sought to provide to not only myself but children around the city. I’d like to thank NEMPAC for their continued support and assistance in helping my family and myself bring these scholarships to fruition and wish both of this year’s scholarship recipients the very best.”
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer opportunities for area children to have access to the arts through the Geraldine Marshall Memorial Scholarship,” said NEMPAC Executive Director, Sherri Snow. “We’re honored that Aaron chose NEMPAC to honor his mother’s memory by starting a scholarship fund in her name. Efforts like his are what allow NEMPAC to truly make a positive difference in the lives of the youth in our neighborhood.”
For more information about NEMPAC and the Geraldine Marshall Memorial Scholarship, visit http://www.nempacboston.org/.
About the Geraldine Marshall Memorial Scholarship
The Geraldine Marshall Scholarship Fund offers two NEMPAC students a 100% full-tuition scholarship for one year. The award is worth approximately $2,000 for Fall through Spring programming (32 weeks of lessons or 30 weeks of classes).
About NEMPAC
The North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization operating in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood of the City of Boston. Operating out of the historic Prado (Paul Revere Mall), NEMPAC is the North End’s key resource for arts programming. A group of North End mother’s founded NEMPAC in 2001 in an effort to create musical programming for their children. NEMPAC has now grown to serve over 900 students a week through in-school partnerships and arts programming at multiple locales. NEMPAC offers a wide array of programming including Private Music Instruction. After-School Arts Programming, Early Childhood Music Education, Music Theatre Troupe, Adult Interactive Workshops, Italian Language, and more!
Wonderful way to pay tribute to your mom as well as to students of NEMPAC. As usual, great work, Aaron!