Captured Event

January, 26 2004 - Arts & Education Council's 13th Annual St. Louis Arts Awards

What: The St. Louis Arts Awards honor excellence in the fields of visual and performing arts, lifetime achievement, corporate support for the arts, philanthropic gifts and art educator of the year.

Where: Chase Park Plaza Hotel - Khorassan Ballroom

When: January 26, 2004

Time: 6:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $200.00 And Up

Host(s): Arts & Education Council

EMCEE: Jim Connett, program director and on air personality at KFUO-FM

Presenting Sponsor(s): Presenting Sponsor: Emerson; Principal Sponsors: The Boeing Company, Edward Jones, and the May Department Stores

Gala Chairperson(s): Cheri Fromm and Marsha Rusnack

Committee Members: Barbara Bridgewater, Marie Brauer, Charlene Bry, Ruth Bryant, Stacey Burns, Elissa Cahn, Laurie Caro, Donna Catsavis, Nancy Charlson, Pat Dickherber, Sue Engelhardt, Beth Evans, Marilyn Fox, Carol Giles, Jan Goldstein, Jenny Gupta, Judy Harris, Gary Heaton, Janie Hockman, Anna Lea Kerckhoff, Gwendolyn Key, Kim Kiersch, Joanne Kohn, Nancy Kranzberg, Susan Krawll, Jim Krekeler, Caol Latz, Ruth Lewis, Lucy Lopata, Tom Manche, Elizabeth Marchbank,Fred McKissack, Pam McKissack, Peggy Nelson, Kathy Pratt, Marnie Rebman, Bettye Reed, Peter Sargent, Lee Suarez, Jo Throdahl, Donna Wilkinson, Sandi Wright

Co-President(s): James F. (Jim) Weidman

Information: Susan Rowe (314) 535-3600 x118Susan Rowe (314) 535-3600 x118

Board of Directors: Robert J. Ciapciak, Chairman of the Board

Steering Committee: CHAIRS: Susan Block: Decorations chair, Susan Gellman: Invitations chair, Connie Kahn and Mary Trulaske: Hospitality chairs, Cheri Fromm and Marsha Rusnack: Patrons chair, Ann and Ellen Fusz: Honoree Escort chairs, Mary Ann Hogan: Production chair, Peggy Ritter: Sponsorship chair, and Elizabeth Sayad: Publicity.

Blacktie Photos by: Harry R. Bean

Peter and Gail Bunce
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Arts & Education Council's 13th Annual St. Louis Arts Awards For 40 years, the Arts and Education Council has been at the heart of it all, ready to lend critical support to hundreds of arts and arts education programs throughout our communty. The St. Louis Arts Awards honor excellence in the fields of visual and performing arts, lifetime achievement, corporate support for the arts, philanthropic gifts and art educator of the year. They do this at an annual dinner. This year's event took place at the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel's Khorassan Ballroom on January 26, 2004. The gala event featured performances by The Carolbeth Trio, compliments of Webster university Leigh Gerdine School of Fine Arts; the Nuclear Percussion Ensemble featuring Henry Claude, Matthew Henry, and Adam Rugo, compliments of Young Audiences of St. Louis; soloist Joe Schoen accompanied on piano by Chris Jackson of C.J. Productions; The Willie Akins Trio featuring Lawrence Fields on keyboard, Willem von Hombracht on bass and Steve Tatern on drums; The New Music Circle featuring Rich O'Donneel, Ted Rubright and Alan Schitling; and the Persian Improve featuring Farshid Soltshanhi and Sandy Weltman. The Arts and Education Council honored nine individual and corporate contributors to the arts community. Honorees for 2004: Nancy and Ken Kranzberg and Peter Bunce for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts; Marilyn and Sam Fox for Excellence In Philanthropy; Willie Akins and Young Audiences for Excellence in the Arts; Anheuser-Busch Companies for Corporate Support of the Arts; and Mary Eichenberger, Orchestra Director for McCluer North High School and Cross Keys Middle School in the Ferguson Florissant School District for Art Educator of the Year. The event chaired by Cheri Fromm and Marsha Rusnack raised more than $340,000. This event will kick-off the 2004 Arts & Education Council fundraising campaign. Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: Peter Bunce Known for his tireless nurturing of the St. Louis arts community, Peter Bunce has helped both sustain and bring life to both large and small cultural institutions in our community. As President of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, he was responsible for turning around the organization in the mid-80s. His wisdom and foresight rallied the board and led to the hiring of Mark Bernstein and Steven Woolf, who he guided successfully through troubled financial times. Today The Rep is enjoyed by a large St. Louis audience and recognized throughout the country for its artistic excellence. Peter has served as a board member of Grand Center since its inception, acting as a sounding board and mentor for staff as well as serving for a time as its unofficial interim director. His efforts during the transition following Richard Gaddes’ departure helped hold the organization together. He continues to play an active role on the finance, nominating and strategic planning committees. It was as a volunteer for Grand Center that Peter worked to establish Jazz at the Bistro and has served as its board president until mid 2003. He was instrumental in securing the funding necessary for the Whitaker Jazz Education Collaborative, Jazz at the Bistro’s education program. Through his leadership this young arts organization has grown, bringing world-class jazz to St. Louis. Peter has also served as President of the Arts & Education Council and on the board of the Mid-America Arts Alliance and the Circus Arts Foundation. Over the years, Peter Bunce has faced the serious challenges of cultural institutions head on, and with his calm convincing manner and ever-present optimism, has met them successfully. His wisdom, leadership, guidance and selfless devotion have had a profound impact on the cultural climate of St. Louis. Corporate Support of the Arts: Anheuser-Busch Companies Anheuser-Busch has a long history in St. Louis, reaching back more than 150 years, and being a good neighbor has always been a part of that history. In addition to supporting education, health care, minority and youth development, and environmental protection, Anheuser-Busch and its charitable foundation provide significant support to arts and cultural organizations to enhance the quality of life for all St. Louis residents. Recently, the company provided support to the Grand Center's Annual Gala as the Underwriting Sponsor. Anheuser-Busch also recently commenced the first of five years of support to Lewis and Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibition at the Missouri History Museum. In addition to these endeavors, Anheuser-Busch has been a strong supporter of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the St. Louis Art Museum, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and, of course, the Arts & Education Council of Greater St. Louis, just to name a few. In fact, since 1999, Anheuser-Busch has awarded nearly $6 million in grants to various arts and cultural organizations in the St. Louis area. Finally, the company’s charitable foundation pledged $2 million toward the Blanche Touhill Performing Arts Center at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. In response to this generous gift, the Performance Hall in the Center was named The Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall. With its warm European opera house feel, and seating for up to 1,625, it is the only performance space of its size in St. Louis. Regular presentations of theater, musicals, opera, classical music soloists and ensembles, dance, and popular entertainers, as well as University theater, music and dance events, will be offered to audiences. It is hard to imagine that the small, regional brewery Eberhard Anheuser acquired in 1860 would become the world's largest brewer. But part of that success is due to St. Louis and the friends and neighbors of the brewery. Anheuser-Busch has worked hard to establish a history of giving back to its friends and neighbors in the community. It is a tradition to look forward to in the next 150 years, and beyond. Lifetime Achievement in the Arts: Nancy and Ken Kranzberg Nancy and Ken Kranzberg are well-known philanthropists and enthusiastic community volunteers whose widespread support has benefited almost every arts organization in St. Louis. They have given tirelessly to individuals, arts organizations and businesses that promote public funding for the arts. Together they recognize the important contribution the arts make to the quality of life we all enjoy. Their leadership has sparked others to follow. Others have described Nancy as “bright, creative and hardworking.” She makes things happen. Many volunteer organizations have been “cross pollinated” because of Nancy’s efforts. She is loved and respected by staff, volunteers and the board members with whom she serves. Just a sampling of the organizations which Nancy holds or has held leadership positions are the Mid America Arts Alliance, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Missouri Arts Council, Laumeier Sculpture Park, the Contemporary Art Museum, Craft Alliance, Jazz at the Bistro, the Center for the Humanities at UMSL, The Sheldon and The Sheldon Art Galleries, Dance St. Louis, the New Music Circle, St. Louis Art Works, and Arts in Transit. Nancy serves on the National Library Council for Washington University and has won several awards for her untiring work in the arts, most recently she was voted into her alma mater, University City High School’s Hall of Fame as an arts ambassador. Whether it’s on her weekly radio program at KDHX or at the board table, Nancy has one recurring theme, “The Arts are Alive in St. Louis!” Ken Kranzberg as chairman of the board of Kranson Industries, the largest distributor of glass and plastic bottles in the U.S., has also given his time and financial support to the arts. As the family business grew, so did his support of the arts. As life members of the Eliot Society they made a major commitment to the new Visual Arts and Design Center on Washington University’s campus. He has served on the board of directors of KETC, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Dance St. Louis, the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, the Arts & Education Council, Grand Center, Art St. Louis, and the Missouri Historical Society and chairs the regional Business Council’s Art Committee for the Social Venture Partnership. Nancy and Ken also recently received the Arts Advocacy Award from the Missouri Citizens for the Arts and the Spotlight Award from Young Audiences of St.Louis. Art Educator of the Year: Mary Eichenberger, Ferguson-Florissant School District High Expectations + Endless Encouragement + Heaps of Love = Success. Skill in motivating young musicians is based on that simple formula. Serving as the Orchestra Director for McCluer North High School and Cross Keys Middle School in the Ferguson Florissant School District, Mary Eichenberger has amassed 33 years of teaching experience. Mary believes that each child deserves special attention. If a child needs an instrument, she will have one; if a child needs transportation, Mary will arrange it; if a child needs an accompanist, she will give selflessly of her time. Her humanistic attitude has garnered great respect from her students and her colleagues. Aside from her middle and high school class schedules, Mary involves her students in many additional activities; solo and ensemble music festivals, All-State orchestra auditions and performances, community service concerts, St. Louis Suburban Honors Orchestra, E. Des Lee programs, community theatre projects and large group festival. The high caliber of her student’s performances is unmistakable. The McCluer North honors orchestra Silver Strings productions have garnered rave reviews and given students an opportunity to showcase their talents for their peers, family and community. Several of her students are now working professional in both music and other creative careers. Mary and her husband Richard, who recently retired, are affectionately known as “the Pied Pipers” of music at McCluer North. For more than 30 years they have shared their love of music with their community. They have established strong ties with the North County area through their church, the Alpha Players, Sentimental Journey and the Northwinds Band. Both Mary and Richard have held offices with the St. Louis Suburban Music Educations Association, the National Association for Music Education (MENC), Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA), the Missouri Choral Directors Association (MOACDA) and the Missouri-American Strings Teachers Association (ASTA). Excellence in the Arts: Young Audiences of St. Louis The mission of Young Audiences of St. Louis is to work with elementary and secondary schools to integrate the arts into the curriculum to improve education, to foster children's creativity and lifelong participation in the arts, and to increase appreciation for our community's diverse cultural heritage. YASTL has grown from an organization presenting hundreds of music performances in the late 1950s, to one of the area's largest and oldest arts education agencies. Now in its 45th year, Young Audiences of St. Louis provides more than 3,000 comprehensive arts education services to more than 160,000 school children, educators, parents and artists in the Metro St. Louis area and beyond. In addition to live performances, YASTL offers a comprehensive range of high quality arts education services that include: workshops, residencies, professional development (in-service) for teachers and pre-service opportunities for college students. The 2003-04 roster includes 104 professional artists, including many of the region's top performers, who present 143 programs. Young Audiences works in partnership with more than 40 community agencies and has received local and national awards for its work, including recognition from Harvard University's prestigious Project Zero. Excellence in Philanthropy: Marilyn and Sam Fox For more than 50 years Marilyn and Sam Fox have been active citizens known for their extraordinary leadership and generosity. As champions of the arts, the Foxes have worked tirelessly to strengthen many organizations such as the St. Louis Art Museum, The MUNY in Forest Park, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, The Sheldon, Dance St. Louis and the Arts & Education Council. But arguably their most notable contribution was making the dream of a visual arts center on the campus of Washington University a reality. Groundbreaking of the new $56 million Sam Fox Arts Center, designed by Pulitzer Prize-winning Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, is scheduled for this April. Their gift was key to moving plans beyond the conceptual stage and toward construction. The center will be located at the corner of Forsyth and Skinker Boulevards and will incorporate two new buildings and three existing ones into a 65,000 square foot museum, library and classroom building and a 38,000 square foot building for the School of Art. The center will enable the university to bring art school functions now housed in various locations in St. Louis County back to its hilltop campus and will create new opportunities for research, interdisciplinary study, teaching and design of the visual arts. As Robert Duffy, St. Louis Post Dispatch architecture critic wrote in his story when their $10 million challenge grant was announced, “Sam Fox claims he’s not an art guy. But he believes the arts center will ensure that visual arts programs will thrive in the years to come and that the arts center will be good for not only the university but for the St. Louis region as well.” Arts guy or not, the St. Louis region is indeed fortunate to have had the dynamic duo of Sam and Marilyn Fox working for the benefit of all of us. Excellence in the Arts: Willie Akins Willie Akins has carved his musical niche for over 40 years on tenor and soprano saxophone. His performing career began with jobs in a variety of small New York clubs, while he built his skills and learned his subject first-hand. A decade of experience with masters such as Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane and sessions at Birdland, Minton’s, Connie’s and Small Paradise on Harlem strengthened his ideas as well as his style. Perhaps the most beloved musician living in St. Louis area, Willie’s dedication to jazz music is unparalleled. When national and international musicians come to St. Louis, it is Willie they want to hear. On tenor sax he is an understated force. His playing reflects a true affection for Trane and Hank Mobley, with more than a passing appreciation of St. Louisans, Oliver Nelson and Jimmy Forrest. Al Grey, Julius Hemphill, Freddie Hubbard, Jay McShann and John Hicks are just a few of the stalwarts with whom he has shared the stage. Prompt, précis tune calling and compatible, cohesive, swinging ensembles are his signature; and he is magically elicits the best from emerging young artists. Willie has always taken the time to teach those who want to learn, both on and off the bandstand. Willie can often be found in area schools. He has a group of students at University City’s Nathaniel Hawthorne Elementary School that he teaches on a regular basis. Willie also teaches a combo at Webster University. For students to be exposed to music through the eyes of such a knowledgeable and historic figure is priceless. Willie’s current work is showcased on Alima, his 1998 debut release as a leader. He moves easily from a lush McCoy Tyner ballad, to Jimmy Heath hard bop through his own originals. This St. Louis legend is now rising to a long overdue place of stature in the world of jazz music. The Arts & Education Council is a non-profit organization which raises funds from the private sector to support the arts and arts education activities in the St. Louis metropolitan area. For more information on the Arts & Education Council, or the Annual St. Louis Arts Awards contact Susan Rowe at (314) 535-3600 x 118.