The following was released by the offices of Senator Vin Gopal and Assemblypersons Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey.

The morning of Monday, March 18, Senator Vin Gopal and Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling joined Red Bank residents and the Count Basie Center for the Arts to present a legislative proclamation recognizing the grand opening of the Count Basie Center’s Monmouth Conservatory of Music.

“If you ask any resident of Red Bank, both the Count Basie Center and the Monmouth Conservatory for Music have long been landmarks of the borough’s rich culture and history,” said Senator Gopal, who serves on the Board of Advisors for the Count Basie Center for the Arts. “I have no doubt that this dynamic duo will continue to inspire passions for music and learning for generations to come.”

GALLERY: Images from the grand opening of the Count Basie Center’s Monmouth Conservatory of Music

“We’re proud to see the arts continue to flourish in Red Bank,” said Assemblyman Houghtaling. “The Count Basie Center’s commitment to the arts and community engagement is a perfect fit for the Monmouth Conservatory’s well-earned reputation for excellence in musical education.”

“The Basie’s decades of musical expertise allow each new student to stand on the shoulders of artistic giants,” said Assemblywoman Joann Downey. “We hope that this new partnership will help the children of Monmouth County explore their dreams and passions more deeply than ever before.”

The Count Basie Center for the Arts first released its plans to incorporate the Red Bank-based Monmouth Conservatory of Music into its existing musical and performance programs in April of 2017.

Senator Vin Gopal, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Joann Downey represent New Jersey’s 11th Legislative District in the State Assembly, where they work to make the Garden State fairer and more affordable for its hard-working residents. In his role as Chair of the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Senator Gopal serves as an advocate for New Jersey’s dedicated population of veterans and servicemembers. As Chair of the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Assemblyman Houghtaling works to support and protect the food industries, open spaces, and natural resources that make New Jersey “the Garden State”; as Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee, Assemblywoman Downey oversees legislation regarding the State’s social services programs, including SNAP, Medicaid, and addiction prevention. The 11th District includes the Monmouth County municipalities of Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.