Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre (NVMT) awarded a scholarship grant of $2,500 to Neshaminy High School (NHS) senior Cameron Krauss of who is planning to study musical theatre in college this fall.
NVMT is a not-for-profit scholarship organization that has offered competitive grants since its founding in 1956 to students graduating from the Neshaminy School District and planning to study the fine or performing arts in college.
The organization mounts an annual musical, the proceeds from which go into a scholarship fund. Generous donors have also contributed to build the fund. To date, NVMT has awarded more than $172,000 in scholarships to just over 200 students.
The organization’s 2024 production of “Mary Poppins” was presented in April at Neshaminy High School Auditorium. The show featured a cast and crew of more than 60 community members from throughout the Delaware Valley and was directed by Barrymore award-nominated director/choreographer Stephen Casey.
“NVMT’s scholarship grant program has been one of the most positive and rewarding forces behind the success of our theatre group for more than a half century,” stated Tom Urquhart, president of the organization. “While we strive for excellence in our stage productions, it is always with the objective of providing funds for our scholarship grants in order to support deserving young people such as Cameron in their quest to achieve their dreams. We’ve been most proud of our recipients and truly happy to have been able to help them!”
The NVMT scholarship was announced at Neshaminy’s Class of 2024 senior awards night held on May 23.
Krauss received support from NVMT through the Evelyn McLean Memorial Scholarship Fund, named for the founder of the organization. He will be attending Rider University this fall majoring in musical theater. His goal is a career as a professional performer.
While maintaining a 3.9 grade point average and taking advanced placement (AP) courses, Krauss has been a member of Neshaminy High School’s Select Choir and The Roadies, the school’s award-winning drama club. Among his leading roles in musical productions have been as the phantom in “Phantom of the Opera”, Harold Hill in “The Music Man”, and as Shakespeare in “Something Rotten”.
He has served as an officer of the Pennsylvania Thespian Conference and works part-time as the pianist/accompanist for Langhorne Presbyterian Church. In support of his scholarship application, Krauss received a glowing letter of recommendation from his voice teacher, Cheri Tigh of MokshaMusic Studio, herself a past recipient of a NVMT scholarship grant.
NVMT has received national recognition for its annual productions, including 32 nominations and seven wins from the International Music and Entertainment Association in categories such as outstanding performer, outstanding director, and outstanding scenic design.
All the participants on stage and behind the scenes are volunteers. The application process for 2025 scholarships, open to graduating seniors of Neshaminy High School, will be available next spring.
NVMT will announce its spring 2025 production later this summer. Auditions will be held in the fall.
For more information on Neshaminy Valley Music Theatre and its scholarship program, visit nvmt.org, or email nvmt@verizon.net or call 215-860-1584.
PHOTO CAP: Neshaminy class of 2024 senior Cameron Krauss is an NVMT scholarship recipient.