“Viva Arts!" Enjoys Another Successful Year
October 30th brought together many members of the business, civic and art community to watch performances by young Civic Arts Education students and help raise funds for scholarships and other program related needs. The Friends of Civic Arts Education would like to extend sincere appreciation to all the businesses and individuals who donated items for the silent and live auction, which helped us raise over $22,000.
Emcee for the evening was Gary Pokorny, retiring City Manager of Walnut Creek. A member of the City staff in Walnut Creek for over ten years now, Gary says he has watched the Civic Arts Education Program grow and prosper and is particularly pleased with the growing strength of the Friends of Civic Arts Education. “It is an effort of love and support for the young persons who will be our next generation of musicians, dancers, and artists.” Gary grew up on a family farm in Nebraska where, he tells us, he learned early on the values of hard work and self discipline. As a youth, he enjoyed music and drama, though his efforts at playing the accordion (under the tutelage of an uncle) and drama, in high school and college student productions, convinced him that a career in the performing arts was not his métier! Gary is pleased to play a part in making the 2010 Viva Arts event a rousing success and the Friends Foundation thanks him for his generous support.
The Foundation would also like to thank all the Civic Arts Education student performers: The Leadership Ensemble of DRYO (Diablo Regional Youth Orchestra), under the direction of Rem Djemilev; the Saxophone Ensemble, a musical group giving students, ages 13 to 17, an opportunity to play and perform challenging chamber music from Bach to bebop, directed by Kevin J. Stewart; the CAE Dance Academy, an intensive student program designed for students who have previous dance training and want to pursue professional ballet training, under the artistic direction of Lauren Jonas; and the Youth Theatre Company, Musical Theatre, produced by Rachel Pergamit and directed by Nina Meehan, a performing group in the stepping-stone drama program for children, 5 to18 years of age. We would also like to thank Lee Goldin and all those involved in the making of the video presentation: Make Your Mark: A Visual Art and Design Program for Teens. With support from Viva Arts, the Friends Foundation provided four scholarships last year for students to attend this yearlong program under the supervision of Doug Rowe.
In kind contributors include Wilma Lott Catering, J & J Event Design, Chairs for Affairs, The Home Depot, Orchard Supply Hardware and the City of Walnut Creek. A major financial supporter for the event was the Coit Financial Group whom we wish to extend an appreciative thanks.
Finally, the Friends of Civic Arts Education Foundation would thanks its many volunteers who helped make this event a success, including: Mary Leigh Miller, President, Friends of CAE Foundation, Kathy Nelson, Program Manager, CAE, Elaine Burman, Administrative Asst, and board and committee members, June Bowen, Robin Rangel, Karen Cassano, John Ricca, Phyllis Ceaser, Doug Rowe, Paula Evangelou, Nan Siegel, Natalie Inouye, Gretchen Smith, Diane Longshore, Holly Starr-Cvetich, Patricia Pava, Rene Steinpress and Cynthia White.
To learn more about the Friends Foundation and how you might be part of next year’s ¡Viva Arts!, please contact us at (925) 939-2787.
Save the date for 2012...
Friday, February 3rd
...we hope to see you there!
