Hundreds of community members, parents, instructors, founders and supporters gathered on Friday, September 23rd at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf to share their appreciation for neighborhood arts and culture at the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC).
Mayor Martin J. Walsh received an award for his support of the arts in Boston. In his heartfelt acceptance speech he expressed his admiration for NEMPAC and pledged his help in finding space in the neighborhood to accommodate NEMPAC’s robust increased programming needs. City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina and State Representative Paul Donato shared in the evening’s festivities.
The Celebration evening began with a comic operatic duet from Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’amore” followed by a preview from NEMPAC upcoming concert series featuring Ryan Yure, clarinetist and Christina Wright Ivanova, pianist performing a piece from Kenji Bunch’s “Cookbook”.
“Christina Wright-Ivanova, the Artistic Director of the Celebration and of the NEMPAC Winter Concert Series, is owed one of our biggest thank you’s of the night. Christina brings her passionate, artistic ideas to NEMPAC year after year, and her work for our Celebration is yet another result of such an inspiring music program” says NEMPAC Executive Director, Sherri Snow.
Emcee Jon Meterparel led the evening through its award presentations including a musical achievement award presented to Executive Director, Sherri Snow, by the St. Joseph Society president, Mark Ravanesi.
Special Guest Musician, Meng-Chieh Liu from New England Conservatory and his accomplished students, 8 year old Rainer Zhou and 11 year old Serena Wang, stole the show with their virtuosic, inspiring piano pieces.
Board President of NEMPAC, Dianne Royle wishes the community a heart-felt thank you after such a successful night.
“My sincere thank you for your generous support throughout the years. A non-profit, such as NEMPAC, could not grow into the greatness that we are today. It truly takes a neighborhood, be it the North End or Charlestown, and, of course, the City of Boston, to support the arts….. so that we may educate your children and bring music into your community.”
Under Royle’s leadership the organization has reached new heights. Her leadership of the Board of Directors and her support of NEMPAC’s Executive Director, Sherri Snow, has proven to be invaluable to the organization.
NEMPAC, a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization founded in 2001, has almost doubled its operating budget over the past three years and now serves over 1,000 students per week through classes, lessons and school partnerships.
NEMPAC is grateful to their sponsors and local businesses who made this special celebration possible. Sponsors include NorthEndWaterfront.com, Richard J. Vita, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Boston Marriott Hotels, Jane and Jim Connolly, Harbinger Development and Normandy Real Estate Partners, Ocean Prime Restaurant, Margaret and Bud Ris, Taste of the North End, Steinway Pianos and Arthur and Andrea Waldstein. Many thanks to our local restaurants, businesses and individuals who generously donated to our special balloon pop raffle! Those businesses are listed here: Celebration Business Donors
Photo Credits: Katie Salerno Photography
