(RED BANK – MARCH 2)  The Count Basie Center for the Arts has announced the availability of its annual Arts Impact scholarships available to Monmouth County high school seniors graduating in 2020.

The Basie will proudly offer three scholarships: the Moser Taboada Arts Impact Scholarship, the Monmouth County Freeholders Basie Scholarship for Continuing Education and the Amy Giinther Fredericks Music Education Scholarship. The Monmouth County Freeholders’ scholarship will be awarded to a student attending a New Jersey-based college in the fall. Each will provide a recipient a scholarship towards their freshman year of higher education.

Also available is the Bank of America Power of the Arts Award, which awards $2,500 to a graduating senior who best demonstrates the impact of the arts on their life.

Students may apply for each scholarship by visiting http://thebasie.org/arts-impact-scholarships, populating the application form and creating an official entry packet, consisting of an essay, resume and two personal recommendations. The thesis of the essay and spirit of the Basie’s Arts Impact Scholarship program is “The Impact of The Arts in My Life.” Applicants may submit their entire packet via this link, or print the application form for submission via U.S. mail.

Deadline for this year’s applications is 4pm on Friday, March 23, 2020 (this years application deadline has now been extended to Friday, May 1, 2020 at 4pm – click here for the most up to date information). Recipients will be announced onstage at the 15^th annual Basie Awards on Wednesday, May 20, 2019. The Basie Awards, presented by Bank of America, recognize excellence in Monmouth County high school theatre.

“We’re proud and excited to continue our support of the Basie Awards and present the Bank of America Power of the Arts Award.  The Basie Awards celebrate the power and importance of arts education for students in our local community,” said Alberto Garofalo, New Jersey President, Bank of America.

“We’re grateful to Bank Of America, Moser-Toboada, and the Monmouth County Freeholders for funding this year’s series of scholarships and awards,” said Yvonne Lamb-Scudiery, Vice President, Education, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “We know that the arts play a significant role in the development of all minds – from actual artists to the scientists or doctors of tomorrow. These awards seek to recognize those who have experienced for themselves the engaging power of the arts.”

2020 Basie Awards – Spring Musicals

The Count Basie Center for the Arts has also announced a record 30 high school spring productions which will be evaluated as part of the year’s Basie Awards:

• Christian Brothers Academy: Footloose
• Communications High School (Wall): The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940
• Colts Neck High School: The Addams Family
• Collier High School: Man of La Mancha
• Freehold Borough High School: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
• Freehold Township High School: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
• Henry Hudson High School: Little Shop Of Horrors
• High Technology High School (Lincroft): Freaky Friday
• Holmdel High School: Into The Woods
• Howell High School: Bring It On
• Keansburg High School: Freaky Friday
• Long Branch High School: Les Miserables
• Manalapan High School: Mamma Mia
• Marlboro High School: James and the Giant Peach
• Matawan Regional High School: Big Fish
• Mater Dei Prep: Newsies
• Middletown High School North: Chicago
• Middletown High School South: Mamma Mia
• Monmouth Regional High School: Mamma Mia
• Neptune High School: Little Shop Of Horrors
• Ocean Township High School: Chicago
• Ranney School: Little Shop Of Horrors
• Raritan High School: Mamma Mia
• Red Bank Catholic High School: Legally Blonde
• Red Bank Regional High School: Beauty and the Beast
• Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School: Footloose
• St. John Vianney High School: Bye Bye Birdie
• St. Rose High School: Into The Woods
• Trinity Hall: Sister Act
• Wall High School: Beauty and the Beast