GatenMatarazzo_Headshot

GatenMatarazzo_HeadshotGaten Matarazzo

Dramatic Pairs – STANJ

Gaten Matarazzo is a Senior at Pinelands Regional High School and a member of Thespian Troupe 4337. He is honored to have won the Governor’s Award for Dramatic Pairs with his best friend Nadia Jewel Vito at STANJ. Having been involved in the arts for over ten years, his favorite credits include Gavroche – Les Miserables (Broadway/National Tour), Benji – Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Broadway), Jack – Into the Woods (Hollywood Bowl), Jean-Michael – Cinderella (Pinelands), and Leaf Coneybear – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Pinelands). In addition to winning 1st place for Dramatic Pairs at STANJ, Gaten has also won the 2nd place award in Comedic Pairs twice (10th, 12th grade) and 4th and 2nd place for Improv Pairs (10th, 12th grade). He would like to thank his other two scene partners Lizzy Yu (Comedic Pairs) and John Morrin (Improv Pairs) for helping make his last competition season his favorite one yet. Special thanks to his friends and family for their support and to Mr. DiFrancia, Ms. Sayah and Dr. Atkins for their help.

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The Governor’s Awards in Arts Education began in 1980 to promote awareness and appreciation of the arts, recognizing the creativity, talent and leadership of the award winners. Each year, awards are presented to approximately 20 educators and 80 students. National and statewide organizations select the students for their exemplary work in creative writing, speech, dance, music, theatre and visual arts and the leaders for their exceptional commitment and contribution to arts education. The program also recognizes arts educators and arts education advocates, whose leadership has helped nurture the development of students in the arts across the state.

16 Mount Bethel Road Suite 202, Warren, NJ 07059
(908) 542-9396
Julia@artsednj.org

The Governor’s Awards event is a partnership of the Arts Ed NJ, the Department of Education, Art Pride New Jersey Foundation, the Department of State and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support is provided by: the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics; Art Educators of New Jersey; Art Administrators of New Jersey; Dance New Jersey; New Jersey Council of Teachers of English; New Jersey Speech and Debate League; New Jersey Music Educators Association; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Writer's Theatre of New Jersey; Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey; New Jersey Thespians and Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The cooperating organizations, award sponsors and individual members of the planning council dedicate their time to make sure that excellence in the arts is rewarded, and work tirelessly throughout the year to plan this special event. The Governor's Awards in Arts Education ceremony are a major collaborative effort of the arts, education and state government.