Middletown arts commission names Bob Nasta 2025 music ambassador to perform at fireworks

The Middletown Cultural Arts Commission designated musician Bob Nasta as its 2025 music ambassador by consent and said it will feature him as a paid performer at the city's fireworks festival.

The nomination was raised during a discussion of changing the music-ambassador program so the honoree performs on the fireworks stage rather than serving only in previous, lower-profile roles. Keisha, arts office staff, said the idea is to provide a more public-facing honor and noted that professional performers are paid for festival appearances: "Whoever is the requested performer—they are paid professionals. We pay them. Not for free," she said.

Commissioners discussed procedure for nominations and whether it was ethical to decide immediately. With no competing nominations offered, the commission agreed by consent to name Nasta and to incorporate the ambassador role into the fireworks program. A commissioner noted that making the announcement at the fireworks would give the ambassador a "captured audience of Middletown residents," and commissioners described the appointment as an honor.

The commission confirmed that Nasta would be engaged as a paid vendor and that details about the performance and any future calls to perform at other city gatherings will be handled through the usual vendor process. The commission also said it will finalize related logistics at forthcoming meetings; its next regular meeting was scheduled for April 24.

The meeting record shows no formal roll-call vote on the appointment beyond the verbal consent recorded during the discussion.