(RED BANK | DEC. 6 2021) The Count Basie Center for the Arts and Bank of America have announced a partnership designating the financial institution as The Preferred Banking and Financial Partner at The Vogel, the Basie Center’s new performance venue, while also providing support to the nonprofit Basie’s arts education and outreach programs.

“As the latest extension of the Count Basie Center, The Vogel is bringing even more dynamic arts and entertainment to our community,” said Alberto Garofalo, President, Bank of America New Jersey. “We look forward to our partnership with The Vogel as the Preferred Banking and Financial Partner and are eager to see the next iteration of programming, arts education and outreach.”

“Bank of America continues to demonstrate itself as a true community partner,” said Jeremy Grunin, Chairperson, Count Basie Center Board of Trustees. “Through this partnership, Bank of America has endorsed the Basie Center mission to Inspire, Educate and Entertain, which we do every day and night at our new performance venue, The Vogel, as well as in our community’s classrooms and onsite through the Basie Center Academy of the Arts. We are grateful for their support and dedication.”

The Vogel is the Count Basie Center’s second venue, located onsite at the nonprofit’s campus on Monmouth Street in Red Bank. Built as a multipurpose performance space, The Vogel can be configured to accommodate both seated and standing room performances, which allows for presentations of everything from black-box theatrical productions, comedy shows and concerts. The two-floor venue features modern acoustics, sound and lighting systems, with a horseshoe balcony providing optimal sightlines throughout.

The Vogel opened last October with sold out performances from musician Grace Potter, and has since hosted jazz duo Kirk Whalum and Keiko Matsui, 10,000 Maniacs, Suzanne Vega, comedians Dave Attell and Chris Distefano and others. Upcoming performances at The Vogel include the Count Basie Center Academy’s ‘A Seussified Christmas Carol’ December 14/15, E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg (Dec 17/18), Irish rockers The High Kings (3/21) and jazz artists Moonchild (3/29) and Lee Ritenour (4/1).

The partnership will also grant Bank of America account and cardholders access to special perks at The Vogel, to be announced at a later date.

A longtime supporter of the Basie Center, Bank of America has long been title sponsor of the Basie Awards, the organization’s high school theater recognition program. Bank of America is also a presenting sponsor for the Count Basie Center Teen + College Film Fest, and provides an annual award to Monmouth County high school graduates as part of the Basie Center’s Arts Impact program. This consistent support was critical to the Basie’s operations and community programs during the onset of the COVID 19 pandemic.

“Bank of America has been a partner of the Basie Center for many years through a number of programs, awards and innovations,” said Bank of America New Jersey President Garofalo. “We continue to be amazed by the work done to enhance the visitor experience and offer high-quality arts education programs that deeply impact our community as a whole.”

“We built The Vogel to showcase up-and-coming talent and provide a space for our students and other fledgling artists to grow and hone their crafts,” said Adam Philipson, President and CEO, Count Basie Center for the Arts. “Bank of America has been a longtime supporter of our organization, and their endorsement of The Vogel and the opportunities in the arts it will provide is a shining example of their commitment to this community. We are grateful and looking forward to our partnership growing even further in the coming years.”

For more information on the Count Basie Center, visit www.thebasie.org

Bank of America

At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).

Count Basie Center for the Arts

The Count Basie Center for the Arts is New Jersey’s premier center for the cultural arts, dedicated to fostering powerful, inclusive artistic experiences and creative exchange of ideas. The Basie mission is to inspire, educate and entertain through its distinct and engaging cultural and artistic offerings that reflect the diversity of the region. As a nonprofit organization, the Basie is committed to enriching the community’s quality of life by generating opportunities for participation in the arts, partnering with schools, collaborating with other mission-based organizations and driving regional economic prosperity. To learn more about the Count Basie Center for the Arts, visit www.thebasie.org