Last of the CO (TA) Meetin’s

The Celebration of the Arts (COTA) held its final general meeting prior to their 36th Annual Jazz and Arts Festival scheduled to be held September 6th - 8th at The Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap, PA on Tuesday August 27th. The evening primarily consisted of a series of final reports and updates on the concluding touches that remain to be made before the great day arrives. The meeting also served as a time to reveal some news relating to the festival and the distribution of this year’s COTA tee shirts to the festival’s volunteer force who were present.

Although there was a great deal of excitement in the air as those attended the meeting anticipated the arrival of the festival which was only days away, a solemn note rang out as thoughts of the late Jazz Pianist Jerry Kozic were remembered among the gathering. It is a sad moment to say good bye to someone who has been a part of the festival’s long history but the sorrow is all the more profound when a member of the Jazz community is taken through an act of violence. This tragedy occurred during The Monday August 5th Ross Township, PA Supervisors’ meeting when a gunman entered the building it was being held and began indiscriminately shooting those who were present. It was announced several benefit functions were being planned to help Jerry’s wife Linda to continue the medical attention she is receiving for the severe injuries she suffered during the shooting and everyone was encouraged to partake of them or by visiting a Facebook Page created for those who would like to help her in her time of need at www.facebook.com/HelpLindaKozic. 

However, after some thoughtful moments, the meeting returned to the business at hand which concluded with the announcement given by COTA Board Member Lauren Chamberlain there will be no more meetings prior to the festival as the endeavor “has it’s COTA together.” Actually, she didn’t say the word “COTA” but I thought it sounded cooler. Smiles. A quiet eagerness was felt as the gathering departed from The Deer Head Inn as the anticipation of another great festival came even closer than it was at the meeting’s beginning. It was hard for some to believe the date of the festival was soon upon them as it only seem a short time ago last year’s event played its concluding notes. Yet, here we are. You’ll find more photographs taken during the Tuesday August 27th meeting in The COTA Meetings 2013 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151647484515421.1073741833.636000420&type=1.

The mission of The Celebration of the Arts (COTA) is to present and to support the art of jazz in all its forms and historical breadth through youth education, performing arts presentations, scholarship opportunities, and community outreach throughout the Pocono area. The 36th Annual Jazz and Arts Festival scheduled to be held September 6th - 8th, 2013 beginning with the Annual Music Motif Artists’ Reception held at The Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery and the evening of Theater, Dance, and Classical Music held at The Presbyterian Church of the Mountain both located in Delaware Water Gap, PA on Friday September 6th. The festival continues the following Saturday and Sunday in Delaware Water gap. PA with displays of arts and crafts, a variety of food, and an outdoor concert featuring some outstanding Jazz musicians. Please Explore The Celebration of the Arts Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/groups/cotajazz/?fref=ts or call 570-424-2210 to learn for more information about the festival and all COTA has to offer.