Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center (BCPAC) announced Kevin Abbott and Diane Kerner Arnett will both receive the organization’s Jackie Award, the Marilyn Horne Award for Excellence in Creative and Performing Arts.
BCPAC Executive Director Darren Litz said, “We are thrilled to present not just one, but two awards this year to Kevin Abbott and Diane Kerner Arnett. Both have contributed so much to the community and certainly deserve recognition for all they have done throughout their lives to promote and share their passion and creativity for the arts.”
BCPAC has presented this award since 1990, recognizing an individual or organization who has demonstrated excellence in and support of the creative and performing arts in the region. The award was originally given as The Bravo Award but was retired in 2000 and changed to the “Jackie” award, given in recognition of Bradford native and world-renowned opera singer, Marilyn “Jackie” Horne, who was honored with the award when she returned to town in the spring of 2000.
Abbott was born and raised in Bradford, a son of the late Dr. Wilbur and Claridel Abbott, and is a 1970 graduate of Bradford High. He graduated with a degree in automotive mechanics from Alfred Tech in 1972. Abbott worked as a mechanic for 40 years, 30 of those at Fairway Ford in Bradford, where he worked until retiring in 2017. Having a love for antique cars, he has restored a 1973 Triumph, the TR6, and is part of the Bradford Auto Club.
For more than 50 years, he has contributed to the arts as both a performer and a sound designer and tech. As a vocalist and instrumentalist, he has played drums with numerous bands and has performed at everything from local festivals to nursing homes, and so much more. His first “paying” job as a musician was as a 15-year-old, when local jazz musician and music teacher John Kytic asked him to fill in on the drums for Kiwanis Kapers. Kevin has also operated sound for events like the Kiwanis Kapers, school productions and church activities, and can be seen behind the sound board for most BCPAC events. You can find him most Sunday mornings singing in the church choir at Hill Memorial United Methodist Church, where he has been a faithful member for more than 40 years.
Abbott has shared his talents with many non-profit groups and benefits for local people and causes.
In 1972, he and another local musician, Grant Orris, began playing music together in a local band called “Triad,” and after 50 years of making music together, they’re now simply known around the area as “Kevin and Grant.” Through the years, the two played together for other bands and also produced an album in 1998 with other musicians called “52 Smiles a Year,” which was a fundraiser for the McKean County SPCA.
Abbott was married to Elizabeth Lamberson, his number one fan, until her passing in 2016. They have two sons, Daniel (Karen) Abbott of Bradford and Randy (Breanne) Abbott of Limestone, N.Y.; four grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. He is presently engaged to Peggy McGee Leonard of Bradford, a retired controller for Bradford Forest Inc.
Diane Arnett, daughter of the late William and Delores Kerner, is originally from Ridgway. She is a 1973 graduate of Warren Area High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication and English from Allegheny College, Meadville, in 1977.
In 1978, she moved to Bradford where she worked for The Bradford Era, earning statewide journalism awards in investigative reporting, spot news, feature stories, feature series and public service writing. After leaving full-time employment there, she continued working with The Era until 2015. She also worked at Bradford Central Christian High School, St. Bonaventure University and the district court system, among others.
Having begun her theater experience in third grade, Diane acted with Warren Players during high school and college, thus beginning a lifelong love of theater and creative writing.
In 2016, she and Nanci K. Garris were recipients of the Lester Brauser Award for their contributions to Bradford Little Theatre (BLT). Arnett was also a charter BCPAC board member in the early years, before co-writing Kiwanis Kapers for several years with Dr. Richard Frederick. At BCPAC she helped to create what was first called the Bravo Award and later changed to the Jackie Award. During her time with BLT, Arnett has taken on nearly every role in the theater, both onstage and off. She was a member of the BLT board for 11 years, serving as president for two of those years. In recent years she has been an advocate for the music theater program at Bradford High, assisting wherever she can to help encourage aspiring thespians.
In 1987, doctors told Arnett’s family that she would not survive the stage four cancer that had spread throughout her abdomen. God performed a miracle, and she has since also survived a bout with breast cancer and has worked to help those diagnosed with terminal illness. Arnett’s cancer has unfortunately returned and she is undergoing treatments again.
In 2005 Arnett helped author the book “Going Home: Facing Life’s Final Moments Without Fear” along with her pastor friend, William Kemp. The book is a guide to help Christians who have been diagnosed with terminal illness. In ultra-short chapters (kept brief so they can be useful to those who are fatigued by illness), the authors deal with many of the relational issues that the dying may struggle with. Kemp and Arnett also address practical concerns such as wills, estate planning, organ donation and funerals; these chapters are helpful in an introductory way, but readers will need additional sources beyond this guide, whose most important contribution is spiritual. The book’s final section walks readers through the final stages of life’s journey, teaching readers how to pray for forgiveness of sins and thank God for the gift of life. The authors close out the book by providing poetry, prayers and quotations about death and heaven.
Arnett has been happily married for 45 years to David Arnett, who retired from Georgia-Pacific. They have a daughter, Rachel, who works for AGP in Pittsburgh. Arnett is also involved in the
activities of their church at Hill Memorial UMC, along with her friend Abbott.
“So, it seems fitting that both of them share this award,” said Litz. “The students she has worked with see her as a true wonder woman. Despite the physical difficulties she has been through in her battle with cancer, she always gives her heart to the students and finds a way to keep on inspiring them to give their best.
“This is only the third time we’ve given this award out to two recipients in the same year. So, we decided to honor both of these individuals for their outstanding service and dedication to the arts, and their commitment to sharing the love of the arts with so many others throughout the Bradford community and region,” Litz said.
Abbott and Arnett will be recognized and presented with their awards at the upcoming BCPAC performance of The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra at the Bromeley Family Theatre on the University of Pitt-Bradford campus, at 7 p.m. April 15, with a light reception following in the lobby. Tickets for the event are still available online at bcpac.com or by calling the Ticket Office at (814) 362-2522.
