Ferillo Joins Effort Mentoring Young Artists
February 24, 2011
CHARLESTON, SC – February 24, 2011 – “Having North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, Charleston Regional Arts Alliance Chair Nella G. Barkley and Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker lend their names to our new arts award for mentoring young lowcountry artists is thrilling, and the ‘hits just keep on coming’” said Chip Nimmich, board president of the South Of Broadway Theatre Company based in North Charleston, sponsors of the Summey Barkley Rucker Medallion award. Nimmich is Associate Director of Admissions at The Citadel.
Nimmich was commenting on the decision to name Charles Traynor ( Bud ) Ferillo, Jr. as chairman of the committee that will select the award’s first recipient. Ferillo is the Immediate Past Chairman of the South Carolina Arts Commission and a Charleston native now residing in Columbia. “An inspired choice as chair, Bud understands that parents and schools need our help with developing young artists particularly at this moment of arts funding challenges facing our state,” Nimmich said. The award will be presented annually starting May 2011.
Above photos: Mayor Keith Summey, Nella G. Barkley and Darius Rucker.
Ferillo is also director of the 2005 multi-award winning documentary “Corridor of Shame: The Neglect of South Carolina’s Rural Schools.” In 2006 Ferillo was a recipient of the “Friend of Education” Award from the S.C. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the “Advancing Education and Equity” Award from the American Association of University Women of South Carolina. He was named Distinguished Alumnus by the College of Charleston in 2010.
The 13-membered Summey Barkley Rucker Medallion selection committee will meet March 9 at North Charleston City Hall to decide on a group or individual distinguished for their involvement in developing young artists and promoting the capacity of arts organizations to thrive economically. “I am confident we will name a recipient whose record reflects honorably on the three persons who namesake this award and its purpose,” said Ferillo. “All three of them are ‘super-stars’ in their own right and as advocates on behalf of education and young artists’ needs.”
Summey helped South of Broadway in 2005 establish Summer In The City, a monthlong residency program that takes lowcountry performing artists ages 14-19 to New York City for masterclasses with world-class mentors. Barkley has spent her entire professional life enabling people to fulfill their potential and nothing is more dear to her heart than empowering young artists. Rucker and his band mates have donated millions of dollars in funding multitudes of public education needs statewide through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation.
Some 14 students will make this year’s June 5 – July 2 Summer In The City trip. Scholarship assistance comes from The Zucker Family Endowment/InterTech Corporation, Sherman Capital LLC and The Yaschik Foundation.
Other members of the Summey Barkley Rucker Medallion selection committee include: James Braunreuther, Fine Arts Coordinator Charleston County School District; William (AJ) Gardner, Jr., College of Charleston Theatre Student; Mary Gould, Director South of Broadway Theatre Company; Tiffany D. Harrison, Senior Financial Manager Boeing South Carolina; Marlon Kimpson, Attorney Motley Rice; George Lockwood, President CPM Federal Credit Union; Matt Morgenstern, Mass Mutual Financial Group; Carolyn Murray, News Anchor WCBD-TV; Evelyn Perry, Principal Carolina Sound Communications/Muzak; Hon. Kurt Taylor, North Charleston City Councilman; Kristin Kurie, President The Wilderman Group; Dr. John Zhang, Medical University of South Carolina.
The Summey Barkley Rucker Medallion will be presented at a Gala Reception May, 9, 2011 at the Fire Museum in North Charleston. For more information contact 843-745-0317 or visit website: www.southofbroadway.com.
