Arts Council Celebrates Arts at Annual Event

The celebrated the arts during its annual event, "Celebrating the Arts," on April 10 at Fairleigh Dickinson University. 

The press release is below:

On April 10, 2012, in the restored gardens and Gilded Age Mansion at Fairleigh Dickinson University, the Arts Council of the Morris Area held its annual Celebrate the Arts event and presented its 2012 Awards for Outstanding Arts Advocate: Allison Larena; Outstanding Arts Organization: Art League of the Chathams; Outstanding Corporation/Business:Investors Bank; Outstanding Arts Educator/School: Visual Arts Department, County College of Morris; and Outstanding Professional in the Arts: Julie Friedman. Kevin Coughlin, Editor, MorristownGreen.com received a Special Recognition. “Ultimate Volunteer,” Janet Darrow was recognized for over 20 years of outstanding service to the Arts Council. As they step down, Margaret Nordstrom and Robin Rotenberg were thanked for their distinguished service as members of the Arts Council board.

The event was sponsored by The MCM Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and by Emma Joy Dana. Nearly 200 members of the arts community shared in this heady and exciting celebration of the arts – an evening of tribute to the power of the arts to inspire, heal and teach. Elizabeth Christopherson, President & CEO of the Princeton-based Rita Allen Foundation (for medical and scientific research), presented the awards with flair and polish.

The event was also an occasion to celebrate the future, introducing this year's talented graduating high school seniors who won the Arts Council’s two scholarships. Trumpeter Joseph Soriano, a Succasunna resident graduating from Roxbury High School, was awarded the 2012 Elaine Ehlers Arts Scholarship ($5,000). Industrial designer Miriam Buchwald, a resident of Rockaway graduating from Morris Hills High School, was awarded the Eugenie Coladarci Arts Scholarship ($1,250).

The evening also included a stunning performance of Gershwin’s “Summertime” and Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Poor Wandering One” by the 2006 Coladarci Arts Scholarship winner, soprano Chelsea Friedlander. An award-winning singer, Chelsea is currently completing her masters in voice at the Manhattan School of Music and was accompanied by her mother, Helene, a professional pianist. It was truly a night to be inspired! Be sure to visit www.morrisarts.org where you can see additional photos, read the award tributes and watch videos of the Friedlander performances.