The North End Music and Performing Arts Center (NEMPAC) congratulates the four recipients of this year’s Geraldine Marshall Music Scholarship! Due to the overwhelming support from the community and State Representative Aaron Michlewitz to carry on the Scholarship, NEMPAC was able to double the awards this year by providing four students with full music tuition support.
The Geraldine Marshall Scholarship was established by her son, Michlewitz in 2015. Marshall, who passed away at the age of 68, was born in Dorchester in 1946, moved to the North End at the age of 21 and settled here for almost 50 years before her passing. The fund preserves the legacy of a woman who loved children and the arts.
Rep. Michlewitz comments “I am so proud of our work with NEMPAC to provide these scholarships to children in the North End and to help them to continue their interests in the arts. I am even more proud that we were able to expand it to four recipients this year. Congratulations to those that received this year’s scholarships.”
The scholarship recipients were selected through a competitive application process and reviewed by the NEMPAC Scholarship Committee. Ferdinand Carangelo (age 9) is using his scholarship to continue his private piano lessons with NEMPAC instructor Ethan DePuy. Recipient and trumpet player Charlie Ellrodt (age 9) uses his scholarship to participate in the Eliot Band Program led and run by NEMPAC after-school. This program includes small group instrument training and ensemble practice two days a week. Scholarship recipient and flutist, Shannon Raneri (age 10), participates in both the Eliot Music Ensemble and Private Lessons with instructor Jaclyn Dentino. Drummer, Lorenzo Vespignani (age 9) will use his scholarship to participate for his second year in the Eliot Music Ensemble program after-school, also run by NEMPAC.
The Geraldine Marshall Scholarship is funded by The North End Cornhole Classic Tournament held every year at the Living Room Restaurant in May, hosted by Michlewitz.