Award-winning organization’s impact is multifaceted
Wilma K Mullet, executive director of TAP
Tuscarawas Arts Partnership has been chosen by Newcomerstown’s ARTSNCT to receive a Manuel Yingling Music Award. According to Executive Director Michael Wise, the first-time award will be presented as a celebration of dedication and artistic excellence to TAP for its contributions to the local arts scene over nearly a decade.
The presentation will be held at the ARTSNCT Arts Center, 304 S. College St., Newcomerstown, on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. as part of the ceremony to honor Bobby Stocker, its seventh music award winner.
Wise said the Manuel Yingling Music Award was established to honor individuals who excel in performance, community involvement and the promotion of music. “They are the individuals passing the torch to the next generation of musicians,” he said.
Yingling, a Newcomerstown native, was a world-renowned trombonist who played with the John Philip Sousa Band, owned a music store on Main Street and directed the community band there. He often composed music for the band.
“As part of our commitment to place a free arts program in our middle school each month this coming year, a professional orchestra will recreate Yingling’s Hyperion Band Concert program from 1922,” Wise said. “Our youth need to know about the famous talented people from Newcomerstown.
“TAP has consistently supported individual artists, arts organizations and local communities throughout Tuscarawas County. Their efforts, deeply rooted in values of inclusivity, diversity and pride in local culture, have significantly enriched the region’s artistic landscape.
“The organization’s impact is multifaceted, encompassing arts programming, relationship building and economic development. By collaborating with community partners and local businesses, TAP not only funds and supports the arts, but also drives initiatives that foster creativity and cultural engagement. Their ongoing commitment to empowering, advocating and educating underscores their vital role in the community.”
Wilma K. Mullet, executive director of TAP, expressed her appreciation for the award. “This is really a surprise honor,” she said. “Our goal has been to elevate the arts in the community, and it has required the efforts of the board members, community volunteers, local artists, local government, commercial partners and donors. None of this could have happened had it not been for the wonderful cooperation of everyone involved.”
Mullet said she feels the future is looking bright for TAP. “We envision an arts council that will live and breathe along with the arts, culture and creative community,” she said. “We are growing by leaps and bounds and are so grateful for this award that will help showcase the work we have planned and the future of the arts in Tuscarawas County.”