Shelby Avery sings "An Dia Musik"

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Celebration of the Arts

Bay Music Foundation Celebrates 52nd Birthday With Program At State Theater

May 15, 2011       Leave a Comment
By: Stephen Kent

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"Welcome to the Celebration of the Arts, 52nd Anniversary of the Bay Music Foundation", said Master of Ceremonies Leeds Bird as he welcomed the audience. " 52 years ago, today in fact, Bay Music Foundation began a labor of love. Love for music, love for young people, and love for our community."

The foundation was established by Peggy Rowley to encourage the musical development of students studying music in Bay County. Since that beginning the foundation has given close to $250,000 in scholarship awards. "A quarter of a million dollars in encouragement to instrumentalist and vocalist alike" said Bird.

The Celebration of the Arts is an opportunity to showcase current and former winners of Bay Music Scholarships. Today's concert featured eleven recent winners as well as two duets featuring Bay Music President Eileen Harrigan.

At each years Celebration of the Arts, the BMF has presented the "Peggy Rowley Award" to a person who has made "outstanding contributions to the arts and music in the Bay County". The award this year was presented to Eileen Harrigan.

Eileen is well known in the musical and performing life of Bay County. Voice, piano and guitar teacher, Eileen has influenced the life of many young musicians. She has directed dozens of shows at the Bay City Players and was musical director two weeks ago for the Players production of Guys and Dolls. She has been musical director for nine consecutive ABC Productions summer musicals. Eileen is also choir director at St. Boniface Church in Bay City.

Eileen first served on the Bay Music Foundation board from 1973 through 1976. She returned to the board in 2001 and has served as board President for the past three years.

Following the free concert the audience enjoyed a reception and desert hors d'ouvres and met the musicians and members of the Bay Music Foundation.

The Bay Music Foundation is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting music study. Besides the annual competition, the foundation holds workshops and master classes. All scholarship funds come from contributions and the all volunteer organization grants the majority of these funds to scholarships.

For more information visit www.BayMusicFoundation.org .

Links to Bay Music Foundation Stories
2017 Competition 2016 Competition 2015 Competition 2014 Competition 2013 Competition 2012 Competition 2011 Competition 2011 Celebration of the Arts 2011 Competition 2010 Celebration of the Arts 2010 Competition	2009 Celebration of the Arts 2009 Competition 2008 Competition 2007 Competition 2006 Bay Concert Assn. Donation 2006 Competition 2004 Competition Announcement 2003 Competition 2003 Competition Announcement

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Stephen Kent
Steve Kent and his family have lived in Bay City for 40 years. He is VP of Technical Services at MMCC which produces MyBayCity.Com. Kent is active in many Bay City civic organizations. More from Stephen Kent

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