From Billie Holiday to Scholarships: The Outer Banks Forum Supports Arts Education

By Tatum Clements

The Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts has been bringing world-class entertainment to our community since 1983.

Each year, the nonprofit’s board of directors curates a diverse series of seven live performances, which make up the Outer Banks Forum’s season.

The final show of their 2025-2026 season will be The Jazz Legacy Project presenting Billie Holiday: God Bless the Child, featuring vocalist Maria Howell on Saturday, April 25 at 7:00 p.m. at First Flight High School’s David E. Oaksmith Auditorium.

Billie Holiday: God Bless the Child is a powerful cultural experience that celebrates the music, life, and defiant spirit of one of history’s most influential vocalists. Through a captivating multimedia experience of live music, narration, rare images, and video footage, the audience will gain a deeper understanding of how Holiday developed her unique vocal style and blazed a trail for future generations. The audience will also hear the iconic songs that defined Holiday’s career, including the masterpiece God Bless the Child, which she co-wrote.

In addition to the evening show, the Outer Banks Forum is hosting a free matinee performance of The Billie Holiday Story on Saturday, April 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in First Flight High School’s auditorium.

The special matinee, which was made possible by a grant from the Outer Banks Community Foundation, is free for all Dare County students and parents.

“Thanks to the generous support of the Outer Banks Community Foundation, we are offering this matinee free of charge for our local students and their family members,” said Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts President Carl Curnutte. “What a wonderful opportunity for Dare County students to experience the arts in such a meaningful way.”

To enhance the matinee experience, lesson plans have been shared with Dare County students, encouraging classroom connections tied directly to the matinee—creating a meaningful opportunity to educate through a live performance.

“The addition of classroom lesson plans allows this to go beyond a performance—it becomes a true educational experience,” added Curnutte. “We are extremely excited and deeply grateful.”

Tickets to the free matinee can be reserved online at OuterBanksForum.org, and tickets for the evening show can also be purchased on the Outer Banks Forum’s website.

To further its mission of encouraging arts education and supporting local students, the nonprofit has established the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts Scholarship, which is managed by the Outer Banks Community Foundation.

 On Wednesday, April 15, First Flight High School hosted its scholarship award night, where three seniors were awarded the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts Scholarship.

Sophie Vaught, who will be attending UNC Wilmington in the fall to study psychology and theater, was one of the scholarship recipients.

“I would like to acknowledge how grateful I am to the Outer Banks Community Foundation and the Outer Banks Forum for their support and encouragement toward my future, as well as to my fine arts directors John Buford, Monica Penn, and Bob Ebert for motivating me throughout all four years of my high school career,” said Vaught, who is the Master Electrician and Light Board Operator for the Outer Banks Forum at First Flight High School. “This scholarship is so special because it will allow me to continue pursuing my passion and creativity for storytelling both on stage and behind the scenes while reinforcing my confidence, work quality, and connection I’ve built through my work in our local fine arts community.”

First Flight High School senior Charlotte Chappelle also received an Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts scholarship, and she will be attending Pace University.

In 2025, the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts established a renewable endowment scholarship to support Dare County students who aspire to pursue a career in the performing arts or in a field that supports the performing arts.

Hayden Ambrose, who will be attending UNC Wilmington to explore careers in biology, engineering, and technical theater, was the inaugural recipient of the Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts renewable scholarship.

“I plan on using the scholarship money to further both my education and my love for working behind the scenes in technical theater,” said Ambrose, who is the Stage Manager for the Outer Banks Forum at First Flight High School. Theater has had such a large impact on my life, and I can’t wait to pursue my dreams in college.”

While the Billie Holiday matinee and evening performance will conclude this season for the Outer Banks Forum, the nonprofit’s scholarships enable it to support the future of young artists and the artistic community on the Outer Banks all year.

“The Forum has been bringing exceptional performances to our community for decades,” said Outer Banks Community Foundation President and CEO Chris Sawin. “Now, working with them to support local students through scholarships takes that impact to a whole new level.”

The Community Foundation’s next grant application is for Focus Grants, which offer a funding opportunity of up to $50,000 for innovative, large-scale projects aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges on the Outer Banks. These grants prioritize projects that expand healthcare access, provide affordable housing solutions, and support child care initiatives. The application deadline is Friday, April 24, 2026.

Nonprofits are encouraged to visit OBCF’s website for detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria, and the application portal. Early submissions are encouraged to allow time for review and feedback.

For more information or assistance with the grant application process, visit OBCF.org/grants or contact the staff at 252-423-3003.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.