Supporting the next generation of the arts by contributing to education and training in arts-related fields
(APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED)
About the Scholarships
Celebrating its 57th year, the Pembroke Arts Festival was founded to promote and celebrate the arts in the Pembroke community. Each summer since 1968 the Pembroke Arts Festival committee has presented one of the region's finest art shows.
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Pembroke Arts Festival is now accepting applications for both a $1000 Visual arts scholarship and a $1000 Performing arts scholarship.
Applicants must be residents of Pembroke and graduating high school seniors or current college students.
Past recipients of these awards are ineligible.
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How to Apply (APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED)
The deadline to apply is normally April 1 of the festival year.
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To apply, please fill out and submit the Pembroke Arts Festival Performing Arts Scholarship application downloads as a PDF), or the Pembroke Arts Festival Visual Arts Scholarship application downloads as a PDF)
Applications must be submitted through the Naviance website or mailed to:
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Pembroke Arts Festival
P.O. Box 1453
Pembroke, MA 02359
Matthew
Sears
Visual Arts Scholarship
Matthew is a 2024 graduate of Pembroke High School where he was a member of the National Honors Society, Marching Band, and the Honors Wind Ensemble.
Matthew was also a 4-year member of the Varsity Swim Team, serving as captain during his senior year. He has earned his black belt from American Kempo Karate Academy. Matthew has also been immersed in community service, including teaching 4th grade Religious Education at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Hanover.
Since he was old enough to hold a smartphone, Matthew has been captivated with making movies as a storytelling outlet. In 2023 he was accepted into and attended a summer film program through the New York Academy of Film. He is enrolled as a Film major in the Class of 2028 at Ithaca College.
Matthew feels that The Pembroke Arts Festival is a great opportunity for local artists to showcase their work. Being seen and heard allows one the chance to display their creativity in a community that appreciates the diverse works that are shared.
2023 Scholarship Recipients
Meghan Wu
Visual Arts Scholarship
Meghan Wu is a recent graduate of Pembroke High School’s class of 2023.
Art has always been a major part of her life as it has been a passion since her childhood. Meghan says art allows her to be creative and experimental while also being her form of expression.
This fall, she will be majoring in Architecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She states that she is thankful that art has guided her to where she is today and cannot wait to see where her art will take her.
Elizabeth Gallagher
Performing Arts Scholarship
Elizabeth Gallagher graduated from Pembroke High School in 2023.
There, she was a member of National Honors Society, Tri-M Music Honors Society, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, Varsity Field Hockey, and Varsity Ice Hockey.
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She held leadership roles such as president of Amnesty International Club, Clarinet Section Leader, eboard member for the new Multicultural Club, and Varsity Tennis Captain.
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She is also a two-time Patriot League sportsmanship Award recipient for the winter and fall athletic seasons.
​ Elizabeth has played the clarinet since the 5th grade, consistently collaborating with teachers and classmates to improve. She began teaching herself the saxophone in 10th grade to join the after-school Jazz Band club that performs at the school’s concerts. She also made appearances in the Pembroke High School Orchestra as a percussionist.
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Throughout the year, Elizabeth continuously plays the clarinet in other optional programs at the high school, such as the audition-based Solo-Ensemble Concert, the Christmas-Carol Band in December, and at the schools Art Show.
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​ Elizabeth will be attending Sacred Heart University in the fall and will continue to pursue the performing arts as a musician in Marching Band, Pep Band, and Concert Band.
Davis Yarranton
Performing Arts Scholarship
Davis Yarranton graduated from Pembroke High School in 2022 and is currently attending Smith College, where she is majoring in history and music with a performance concentration.
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In High School, Davis was a member of the National Honors Society, TRI-M Music Honor Society, orchestra, and art club and played field hockey all four years.
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Inspired by her father's playing, Davis has studied piano since she was six, taking piano lessons at the South Shore Conservatory (SSC) until she graduated High School in 2022. She participated in monthly piano recitals, masterclasses, competitions and chamber music classes throughout her youth.
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Since attending Smith College, Davis has studied the piano under Professor Yang Liu. There, she truly found her passion in making music; in addition to her academic courses, Davis participates in private performance lessons and chamber music ensembles and volunteers to perform at the Lathrop Nursing Home on weekends.
Davis recently performed at Steinway & Sons Studio in New York City, and this summer, she has been invited to participate in the Summer European Music Festival in Szczecin, Poland.
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Davis aspires to combine her musical and historical studies in her future career as a musicologist or professor; she is interested in researching how music intersects with history and how performances and oral transmissions create a unique yet comprehensive approach to understanding the past.
2024 Scholarship Recipients
2022 Scholarship Recipients
Allison Zeoli
Performing Arts Scholarship
Allison Zeoli is a soprano vocalist, and has been training privately in the classical genre since the sixth grade.
Aside from vocal lessons, Allison has also participated in her school’s honor-level choir and band, as well as in choirs recognized at the all-state level.
Allison enjoys performing all genres of music, especially musical theater where she most recently played the leading role of “Donna” in the PHS production of Mamma Mia!.
Instrumentally, Allison plays the piano, violin, ukulele, french horn, and percussion instruments.
Allison also takes part in songwriting. She has written and published her original EP titled “Gemini”, which is available on many popular streaming services. In the Fall,
Allison will study at Boston University as a music education major, with hopes of eventually becoming a college music professor.
Aree Tam
Visual Arts Scholarship
Introducing our visual arts scholarship recipient
Aree Tam
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I am a recent graduate of Pembroke High School’s class of 2022. Art has always been incredibly important to me and has been a source of passion since childhood.
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In my free time, I create custom artwork and handlettered signs that are sold through my Instagram and Etsy shop, Lettering By Aree.
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This fall, I will be majoring in graphic design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I am incredibly excited to see where my art will take me!
Allison Zeoli
Performing Arts Scholarship
Allison Zeoli is a soprano vocalist, and has been training privately in the classical genre since the sixth grade.
Aside from vocal lessons, Allison has also participated in her school’s honor-level choir and band, as well as in choirs recognized at the all-state level.
Allison enjoys performing all genres of music, especially musical theater where she most recently played the leading role of “Donna” in the PHS production of Mamma Mia!.
Instrumentally, Allison plays the piano, violin, ukulele, french horn, and percussion instruments.
Allison also takes part in songwriting. She has written and published her original EP titled “Gemini”, which is available on many popular streaming services. In the Fall,
Allison will study at Boston University as a music education major, with hopes of eventually becoming a college music professor.
2021 Scholarship Recipients
Renee Warrell
Performing Arts Scholarship
Renee Warrell graduated from Archbishop William High School in 2020. There, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and an active volunteer at the Quincy Community Action Program.
She danced at A Dancers’ World in Halifax for 16 years, where she was an assistant dance teacher and a member
of the ADW Competitive Dance Team for 9 years. During her high school career she has received recognition and several awards for her excellence in dance including the Hollywood Summer Tour at the Groove Dance Competition and Convention in 2017, the Sparkle Award in 2018 at the Greater Brockton Dance Teachers Association Competition, the DeLutis Sisters Jazz Award at Dance Teachers Club of Boston in 2018, the Tour Outstanding Scholarship at Sheer Elite Dance Competition and Convention in 2019 and 2020, the Bette Campbell High Score Winner and the Overall
High Score Tap Winner for the Greater Brockton Dance Teachers Association in 2020.
She also received her dance teacher certification in 2018. She is finishing up her freshman year at Marymount Manhattan College where she is majoring in dance and made the Dean’s List.
William Hoban
Performing Arts Scholarship
William Hoban is a recent graduate of the Pembroke High School Class of 2021. He has played trombone since fifth grade and has been taking private trombone lessons since ninth grade.
Last year, he added his voice to the PHS Concert Choir and this year he auditioned and was accepted into the Honors Chamber Singers at PHS. He enjoys being first chair trombone in Honors Wind Ensemble and section leader for the PHS Marching Band.
William was the Drum Major for the PHS Marching Band for the 2020-21 season, but unfortunately a marching season was not possible due to COVID-19. However, he thoroughly enjoyed conducting the Marching Band for the Memorial Day performance.
He will begin pursuing a Music Therapy Degree at the University of Rhode Island this fall to fulfill his desire to share his love of music with others.
2019 Scholarship Recipients
Sydney Alfano
Performing Arts
Sydney Alfano is a recent graduate from Pembroke High School. She has been playing trumpet since fifth grade and her hard work on trumpet has gotten her accepted to SEMSBA, District and All State festivals. In addition to trumpet, she has recently taken up piano and joined the school choir. This year she attended her first SEMSBA festival as a member of the choir. In addition to being a very active member of the PHS music department, she has participated in community ensembles with the Satuit Band, South Shore Conservatory, and New England Conservatory’s Prep School. Sydney is very excited to continue her musical journey at Ithaca College where she will major in Music Education.
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$1000 has been awarded upon successful completion of a college semester.
Lara Federspiel
Visual Art
Lara has been chosen as the recipient of PAF’s Visual Arts Scholarship for 2019. She is enrolled in Savannah College of Art and Design to study User Experience Design and Illustration this fall. Lara has participated in the Pembroke Arts Festival since she was in kindergarten, and says it has pushed her to not only improve her own skill, but recognize the skill of other artists. She states that art will always be a passion of hers, and she can’t wait to see where it leads her in the future!
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$1000 has been awarded upon successful completion of a college semester.
2018 Scholarship Recipients
Claudia Boutwell
The Pembroke Arts Festival is proud to announce the 2018 Performing Arts Scholarship to Claudia Boutwell! She will be attending Shenandoah University to pursue her love of dancing! She has excelled in tap and has been apart of the PSPA, the USA Tap Team and the American Tap Company!
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$1000 has been awarded upon successful completion of a college semester.
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Grace Monti
The Pembroke Arts Festival is proud to announce the 2018 Visual Arts Scholarship to recent Pembroke High Graduate, Grace Monti!! Grace will be attending UVM in the fall, majoring in Art Education and minoring in Special Education, in hopes of one day being a elementary school art teacher!
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$1000 has been awarded upon successful completion of a college semester.
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