Riverhead, NY - December 22, 2015 - East End Arts is pleased to announce that Cole Hempel of Westhampton Beach, a student of the East End Arts School’s music program, is the award recipient of the Mark Gatz Memorial Scholarship Fund's 2015 music scholarship. The scholarship was inaugurated in the Summer of 2015 in honor of the memory of Mark Gatz, a talented saxophonist and woodwind musician, dedicated music educator, and a long-time faculty member and friend of East End Arts. Mark taught woodwinds at the East End Arts School since 1996, after being an East End Arts board member. Over the years through his career as a professional musician, Mark performed with Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Tito Puente and others. He appeared on NBC’s “Law and Order”. He also performed under the direction of Julie Andrews and recorded music for bassist Bakithi Kumalo (Paul Simon) as well as compositions for his own recordings.
East End Arts is delighted to honor Mark Gatz's legacy by naming Cole Hempel as this year's scholarship recipient. Cole Hempel is in ninth grade at Westhampton Beach High School. He has been playing the piano since he was in the first grade with Tatiana Balepina at East End Arts School. He has received numerous prizes and has performed on Long Island and in New York City, including at Carnegie Hall. In high school, along with being an honor roll student, he also plays the saxophone for the school and county bands. Not only does Cole enjoy music, but he is also a great soccer player and wrestler. His soccer team is in the top five nationwide.
East End Arts congratulates Cole on this special honor and for all of his hard work and dedication to his music education.
The East End Arts School has 200 students each semester studying voice, piano, drums, violin, guitar and orchestral instruments, as well as music composition. Currently, the School is able to provide scholarships to 20% of our student body; and scholarships are still available.
For more information about the East End Arts School’s music program, or how to contribute to the East End Arts School’s Music Scholarship fund, please contact the East End Arts School: 631-369-2171, or visit online to learn more.
East End Arts, established in 1972, is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit arts organization, and operates a School of the Arts, an Art Gallery, and presents a variety of events and programs to promote the arts year-round. Proceeds from all events, sales, classes, donations, and memberships benefit the mission and commitment to building and enriching our community through the arts by way of education, support, advocacy, and inspiration.