Two North End Students Recipients Marshall Music Scholarships

By Phil Orlandella

Representative Aaron Michlewitz with Alba-Lis Routhier-Gomez and Juliana Vitello.

The North End Music Performance and Arts Center (NEMPAC) was honored to continue to carry on the Geraldine Marshall Scholarship, and to preserve the legacy of a woman who loved children and the arts. The Geraldine Marshall Scholarship Fund entered its second year of awarding two North End children a full-year music scholarship to participate in one of NEMPAC’s educational programs.

“I want to congratulate the two recipients of the scholarship this year,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz. “Giving children an opportunity to pursue their interests in the arts was a passion of my mother’s and I’m proud that we are continuing that passion with NEMPAC.”

Alba-Lis Routhier-Gomez, age 8 student of the Eliot School, uses her scholarship to take private piano lessons with NEMPAC instructor Ben Xia. Juliana Vitello, age 9 student of the St. John School uses her scholarship to take private guitar with NEMPAC instructor Jack Byrne. Both students were selected by NEMPAC’s scholarship committee and Marshall Fund advisor through a competitive application process.

The scholarship funding this year was made in part by donations collected at The North End Cornhole Classic Tournament held at the Living Room Restaurant last May, hosted by Michlewitz.

“I want to thank all those that participated in the Cornhole Classic and a special thank you to Patrick Lyons, John Pregmon and Conor Finley for all their work in organizing the day. We look forward to putting it on again next year!”

To donate to the Marshall Scholarship Fund, please make checks payable to NEMPAC and note “Marshall Scholarship” in the memo line. Donations can be mailed to: NEMPAC, P.O. Box 130255, Boston, MA 02113.

About the Geraldine Marshall Scholarship Fund: The Geraldine Marshall Scholarship was established by her son, Representative Aaron Michlewitz.  Ms. Marshall, who passed away two years ago at the age of 68, was born in Dorchester in 1946, moved to the North End at the age of 21 and settled here for almost 50 years before her passing.