The first Lori Smith Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts will be presented as part of the Center of the World Festival closing festivities this Sunday, Aug. 21 at the Pine Mountain Village Gazebo at 1 p.m.

The award goes to a resident of the Mountain Communities who, early in his or her career in some branch of the performing arts, demonstrates real talent and a professional commitment. The award is designed to promote recognition and to provide for additional training or mentoring.

The winner will be announced on Sunday.

This memorial award was created through donations from Lori Smith’s family and wonderful friends in the wake of her unexpected death at 53, nearly three years ago.

Smith had been a successful musical theater performer before being diagnosed with the disease known as lupus.

During the eight years she spent in the Mountain Communities, she was unceasing in her devotion to the performing arts and music in the schools—through the Forest Arts Coalition (a nonprofit arts organization she headed); the countless concerts and benefits she produced; as an activist with the Arts Council of Kern’s lobby for arts funding; and as a teacher of piano and voice.

This is part of the August 19, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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