ASTEP Chief Program Officer and Juilliard alum Mauricio Salgado is presented with the prestigious Martin E Segal Award.
On March 10th, 2009 at a luncheon at Lincoln Center's Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse ASTEP’s own Mauricio Salgado was presented with a Martin E Segal Award in recognition of his outstanding work with ASTEP.
Now in its 23rd year, The Martin E. Segal Awards were established by Lincoln Center's Board of Directors and a group of Mr. Segal's friends and colleagues when he retired as Lincoln Center Chairman in 1986. The Awards mark Mr. Segal's demonstrated history of leadership and commitment to supporting and developing the careers of up-and-coming artists.
As part of the award, Mauricio also received $7,500 to be used for future study and career advancement.
Below is just a short segment from Mauricio’s acceptance speech:
"Peter grew up having to use deceit and manipulation as a defense mechanism. He was a part of the white minority in a gang heavy Latino neighborhood, and was understandably resentful and judgmental."
"He didn’t make many friends, and few of the teachers bonded with him, but we all tried. He sang 'I was born to be an American', at every sharing session to applause, all of his scenes were explored in theatre class, and all of his personal traumas (whether true or not) were dealt with sensitivity and with compassion. None the less, he had a rough last day of camp, and several of us really believed we’d lost him."
"We extended our friendship and commitment to his journey. Although Peter moved away from South Florida soon thereafter, he took up our offer and kept in contact with letters and poems until he was finally able to save up his earnings from his work at the Waffle House and drive down to participate in our First High School program, where he came under the mentorship of ASTEP volunteer Brian Tucker, a black playwright and poet and recent Juilliard graduate. That summer Peter wrote the prelude to his first novella about relationships, bank robberies and antique cars. Peter is now awaiting military orders for assignment in Afghanistan, but he never fails to send Brian and me his latest inspirations. Someone asked me recently how I stay inspired – my unlikely friendship with Peter is my inspiration."
Mauricio also took the time to thank some very important people:
"Thank you Mr. Segal for setting the precedence for excellence in the pursuit of being an Artist and a Citizen"
"President Polisi [President of Juilliard] Thank you, for demanding the young artistic elite to be involved in the intricacies of Society. For recognizing my passion for serving the greater community, having faith in my artistry, and supporting my mission to combine the two."
"Thank you to The Drama Division faculty for challenging us to specifically pursue our wants, with a strong knowledge of given circumstance, and passion for process that is second to none. Thank you Carolyn for teaching me to inhibit before doing, Kathy for being the compassionate and diplomatic mother for our family, and Richard for empowering my experience by humbly listening and leading attentively."
"Thank you to my community of Artist Activist – The artReachers and ASTEPers – For your artistic ambition, for selflessly and sensitively supporting and guiding the work. And for sharing no greater agenda that the well being of one another."
"Thank you to my parents [Rocio Tafur Salgado and Carlos Salgado] for your honesty, passion for equality, and for teaching me that at times its better to be kind that righteous."
"Thank you Cindy for holding me and encouraging me in the face of God's light."
To read more about the award ceremony check out the following links:
