Mon Valley Academy for the Arts leaders selected for Community Service Award

Annette Buffer and SueAnne Antonucci will receive the honor from the Brownsville Area Ministerial Association.

Two longtime leaders of the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts will be recognized later this month for their service to the Brownsville area and the broader Mon Valley.

Annette Buffer, president of the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, and SueAnne Antonucci, the academy’s treasurer, have been selected to receive the annual Community Service Award from the Brownsville Area Ministerial Association. The award honors individuals who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to strengthening the community through service and leadership.

Buffer and Antonucci were chosen for their work promoting the arts, expanding access to arts education and building connections among residents, organizations and families in Brownsville and surrounding communities. Their efforts have reached students and program participants across parts of Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties and beyond.

The award will be presented during a community service scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Pleasant View Presbyterian Church, 533 Royal Road, Smock. The event is open to the public, and light refreshments will be served following the service.

Carla Anderton, vice president of the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, said the recognition reflects the impact both women have had on the organization and the community it serves.

“We are proud to see Annette Buffer and SueAnne Antonucci recognized for their service to this community,” Anderton said. “Having observed their work first hand, I can say their dedication and leadership make a meaningful difference for our students and program participants.”

Under Buffer’s leadership and with Antonucci’s financial oversight, the academy has continued to expand programming focused on arts education and creative expression, while maintaining strong ties to local schools, churches and community groups. Supporters say their work has helped ensure that arts opportunities remain accessible to students and families throughout the Mon Valley.

Mark Smith, chief executive officer of the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, said the award highlights values central to the organization’s mission.

“Their leadership reflects the values at the core of our organization,” Smith said. “This recognition is well deserved.”

In conjunction with the community service, all Mon Valley Academy for the Arts rehearsal activities scheduled for the evening of Jan. 29 have been canceled. Community members are encouraged to attend the service and join in recognizing the contributions of Buffer and Antonucci.

Organizers said the event is intended not only to honor the recipients, but also to celebrate the role of service and collaboration in strengthening communities across the Mon Valley.

For more information on the MVAA go to monvalleyacademyforthearts. org.

Other music news

Coming up, the MVAA will host a fife workshop with master fifer Walter Sweet.

The class will begin at 10:30 a.m. with an introduction for new fifers and continue at 11 a.m. with personal instruction.

The workshop will allow students to quickly learn to play the unique instrument hands-on.

Call 724-565-1687 or email info@monvalleyacademyforthearts. org.