january-february 2015 happenings

20152015JA N - F E B

A&E Launches

2015 Campaign:

One Gift. A Million Returns! (pg. 3)

Get great deals with the Know and Go Discount Calendar (pg. 6-7)

A&E Grantee, Springboard, provides resources to Ferguson students(pg.5)

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Meet A&E Donor Althelia Powell-Thomas (pg. 9)

Circus Harmony spreads peace and unity with trip to Israel (pg. 8)

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! A new year brings new endeavors, not the

least of which is a new twist on the annual Arts and Education

Council’s Workplace Giving Campaign: One Gift. A Million

Returns! We chose this slogan because it so aptly highlights

how your gift to A&E literally grows, like branches on a tree,

into millions of art experiences, making a vibrant community for

all. Think about it for a minute: Whatever amount you choose

to donate — $50, $100, $1,000 or more — touches so many lives in our community

because A&E uses your dollars to support nearly 70 arts and arts education

organizations throughout the St. Louis bi-state region. So when you consider the

number of individuals these organizations impact, we’re talking hundreds of

thousands of people and millions of art experiences.

To further illustrate the importance of your gift, we will be featuring stories in

Happenings throughout the year about individuals who have been impacted by an

A&E grant and have in return helped others. The first of these profiles in this issue

introduces you to 88-year-old Elizabeth Herring, and the amazing volunteer work

she does through Prison Performing Arts, one of A&E’s many grantees.

In the past couple of months, as we have witnessed civil unrest in our commu-

nity, we have also seen the local arts community come together to show support

for those most impacted. Grantees like Springboard and the St. Louis Symphony

have responded by providing support and resources to the people of Ferguson.

Hundreds of artists have taken part in the Paint for Peace project, painting over

the boarded up windows to brighten our community as it picks up the pieces.

In November, A&E was able to host students from the Normandy and Ferguson-

Florissant School Districts to meet the cast of Motown the Musical. It was a joyous

and uplifting event — illustrating how the arts can bring us together.

All my best,

Cynthia A. Prost

President, Arts & Education Council

P.S. There is still time to get your 2015 St. Louis Arts Awards tickets! (January 19 at the Chase Park Plaza) See page 10 for a profile of this year’s emcee Ben Nordstrom, and call 314.289.4003 for tickets or information.

PRESIDENT

Cynthia A. Prost

VICE PRESIDENT,

ADMINISTRATION

& GRANTS

Susan Rowe Jennings

VICE PRESIDENT

OF DEVELOPMENT

Kate Francis

CONTROLLER

Joseph Soer

DIRECTOR OF

DEVELOPMENT

ADMINISTRATION

Patricia Tichacek

DIRECTOR OF

DEVELOPMENT

Marcia Quint

DEVELOPMENT

MANAGERS

Heather Edwards

Dorothy Powell

GIFT PROCESSING

ASSOCIATE

Mandi Hanway

COMMUNICATIONS

CONTENT EDITOR

Ellen Futterman

SOCIAL AND DIGITAL

MEDIA COORDINATOR

Christine Blonn

PROJECT MANAGER

Kelly Weber

Staff

Centene Center for Arts and Education

3547 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103-1014

p 314.289.4000 f 314.289.4019

2

Letter from the President

2014 Board of DirectorsCHAIR

Terrance J. Good

VICE CHAIR

Leonard T. Eschbach

SECRETARY

Peter Sargent

TREASURER

Kristin J. Guehlstorf

(Chair, Finance)

DEVELOPMENT

Ruth Saphian

FACILITIES

Eric Koestner

GOVERNANCE

Michael W. Weisbrod

GRANTS

Nicole Hudson

MARKETING

Charla M. Claypool

SPECIAL EVENTS

Dorte Probstein

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Cary D. Hobbs

MEMBERS AT LARGE

Barbara B. Goodman

Kenneth Kranzberg

MEMBERS

Nora Akerberg

Tricia Bentley-Beal

Mark Bernstein

Susan Block

Chris Cedergreen

Donald R. Fox

John Gianoulakis

Lissa Hollenbeck

C. Brendan Johnson

Jack Lane

Linda Lee

Linda Leonard

Lisa Melandri

Janet W. Newcomb

Paul K. Reuter

Shawn Schukar

Donald M. Senti

Mary Ann Srenco

Susan A. Stith

Marc C. Thayer

Andrew Trivers

Carol J. Voss

Caren Vredenburgh

EX-OFFICIO

Cynthia A. Prost

On the Cover: The 2015 Workplace Giving Campaign art

(see page 3 for more details).

Ferguson-Florissant and Normandy Students Meet the Cast of Motown the Musical

The Arts and Education Council hosted students from Ferguson-Florissant and Normandy

School Districts for a meet and greet with the cast of Motown the Musical following a

performance of the show at the Fox Theatre.

stlouis.bbb.org

3

The Arts and Education Council

of Greater St. Louis (A&E) is

proud to announce its 2015

Campaign, “One Gift. A Million

Returns!” The campaign and the

beautiful tree are meant to illustrate —

literally and figuratively — the impact

every gift to A&E makes and how each

gifts grows into countless art experi-

ences for people throughout our

region.

The Arts and Education Council is a

unique asset to our community as the

area’s only privately supported united

arts fund. (A&E does not receive gov-

ernment, Zoo-Museum District (ZMD)

or hotel/motel tax proceeds.)

Individuals, corporations, and founda-

tions that contribute to A&E are com-

mitted to the value and benefit of the

arts to our community.

Each gift to the Arts and Education

Council contributes to impactful

grants and programs that support

nearly 70 arts organizations (grant-

ees). In addition to direct funding, A&E

remains deeply committed to offering

professional development, convening

and collaboration opportunities to arts

organizations that allow these institu-

tions to improve and expand their per-

formances, exhibits and activities.

In addition to supporting the pro-

duction and presentation of great art,

contributions to A&E also help grant-

ees grow arts education and outreach

programming for K-12 students

throughout the bi-state region. Research

continues to show that children who

participate in the arts enjoy greater

academic success, higher self-esteem,

improved discipline and elevated

graduation rates. Beyond success in

school, participation in the arts also

builds creative and analytical thinking

skills necessary for advancement in

the world beyond school.

There are millions of stories to be

told about how art impacts a person’s

2015 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN:

One Gift. A Million Returns!

KeepArtHappening.org

life. This edition of Happenings tells

just a few — from Springboard’s work

in the wake of civil unrest in Ferguson,

to Elizabeth Herring teaching the life

skills that ballet offers to incarcerated

young women, to Circus Harmony’s

peace-making trip to Isreal, to Althelia

Powell-Thomas’s leadership in

workplace giving and singing with

IN UNISON® Chorus.

One Gift. A Million Returns.

You can make your gift today at

KeepArtHappening.org.

4

They enter the large, multi-pur-

pose room at the St. Louis City

Juvenile Detention Center

dressed in yellow sweatshirts and

matching pants, wearing tentative

looks on their faces. It’s unclear what

these four African-American young

women, all teenagers, have done to

land in detention, but each will stay

here until her court date. In the mean-

time, there is schoolwork to be done,

appointments with counselors and

ballet class with Miss Elizabeth.

For the past decade, Elizabeth

“Bunny” Herring, who is 88 years-old,

has been volunteering with Prison

Performing Arts (PPA), a non-profit

that involves incarcerated youth and

adults in the performing arts to

enhance intellectual and personal

development. PPA is the recipient of a

PNC Project Grant from the Arts and

Education Council and a tenant in the

Centene Center for Arts and Education.

Herring has been teaching the

weekly ballet class through PPA for

the last three years. “I really love being

with the girls. It’s the most fulfilling

work I know,” she says before her

45-minute class. “It’s really not about

them becoming dancers. Many of

them have been abused and have a

diminished sense of self. Through bal-

let, they can take ownership of their

bodies, be proud of themselves and

carry their heads high.”

On this Friday afternoon, Herring

first shows the girls a video performed

by Dance Theatre of Harlem, which was

in town in November 2014 through

Dance St. Louis, another A&E grantee.

She then leads them to a makeshift

ballet barre to take them through the

paces — first position, second position

and so on, all the time checking their

posture and form. After, she challenges

each to make up a few steps of her own.

The tentative look returns to their faces,

but eventually they succumb. In fact,

they seem to enjoy waving their arms

midair and moving their legs across

the floor. As they dance, Herring pro-

vides positive feedback.

“Volunteering with Prison Performing

Arts is the most fulfilling work,” says

Herring. “I see wonderful results as to

how performing arts can change people

for the better. It helps them to get in

touch with their creative side and blos-

som. It’s a very, very wonderful thing.”

Rachel Tibbetts, director of educa-

tion at PPA, explains that ballet is just

one of several arts programs in the

organization’s Learning Through the

Arts initiative, where local artists men-

tor youth at the city detention center

in music, dance, opera and theater.

“The young people get to work with

professional teachers and performers,

which really helps them learn through

the arts,” says Tibbetts. Other PPA

youth programs include the “Hip Hop

Poetry Project,” which provides inten-

sive performance arts programming

during public school breaks at the

detention center. The goal is to have

each youngster spend every day of the

project in classes, workshops and cre-

ative activities; it culminates with a stu-

dent poetry performance.”

Before ballet, Herring taught poetry

to at-risk youth and shared the stage

with convicts in other PPA programs.

She also tutors at the detention center.

Dance, though, is a natural for Herring,

who tries never to miss her weekly tra-

peze class at the City Museum with

Circus Harmony, still another A&E PNC

Project Grant recipient.

“I decided I would do a trapeze act

to celebrate my 80th birthday,” said

Herring, a stunning wisp of a woman

who moves with grace. “Pushing your-

self to stay fit and doing things to help

others, why that’s the greatest thing you

can do in your life, especially in old age.”

Herring grew up in St. Louis,

attended Mary Institute and an East

Coast boarding school, and then stud-

ied ballet at the American School of

Ballet in New York City. The plan was

for her to dance professionally, that is,

until Ringling Bros. and Barnum &

Bailey Circus came calling.

“They were looking to recruit pro-

fessional dancers and I had always

loved the circus,” Herring recalled.

“There were many girls who tried out. I

auditioned and was one of 60 who

were hired as dancers.

“That was terribly disappointing to

my father,” she continued. “He wanted

me to go to Vassar and marry some-

one from Yale.”

Herring spent three years as an ele-

phant and horse rider under the big

top. She left to marry Skyler “Swede”

Herring, a cowboy whom she met

while on a family vacation out West.

The two moved back to a farm in Pike

County, Mo., had four children, lost

one, and were married for more than

50 years — Swede passed away in

2005. Today, Herring has five grand-

children, all of whom, most likely, think

she is the hippest grandma around.

Let’s face it, how many grannies do

you know who received their bachelor’s

and master’s degrees after the age of

60, hang by their knees and ankles from

a trapeze, sport several tattoos and

have written a book about their life?

Then again, that’s part of what makes

Herring so dynamic and relatable. She

doesn’t believe in the word “can’t” as the

girls in detention have come to find out.

“Oh yeah, Miss Elizabeth is cool,”

says one. “Her class beats playing

cards upstairs and pretty much any-

thing else.”

Elizabeth Herring teaching ballet at the St. Louis Detention Center

ARTS VOLUNTEER:

Elizabeth Herring

5

When the Ferguson-Florissant School District post-

poned the start of school this summer following

community unrest, Springboard St. Louis — an

Arts and Education Council grantee — sprang into action.

The Ferguson Public Library and neighboring First Baptist

Church offered to house and supervise students while par-

ents were at work. Along with teachers and parents from

Ferguson and neighboring school districts, Springboard pro-

vided more than 20 teaching artists to help organize activi-

ties for the children.

“We put out a call through our network to teaching part-

ners/artists and they responded in great numbers,” said

Cathy Hartmann, executive director of Springboard. “We

provided educational programs that engaged the kids and

stimulated learning, which is what we do.”

Springboard provides educational resources to develop

children’s critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and com-

munications skills through the arts, sciences and humanities.

Through residencies, workshops and performances,

Springboard’s teaching artists bring innovative programming

to approximately 140 St. Louis area schools and community

venues impacting more than 44,000 children annually.

One such program includes collaboration with the Repertory

Theatre of St. Louis (also an A&E grantee) called “WiseWrite.”

Fifth grade students from area elementary schools write

their own plays over the course of the school year. At the

end of the year, 15 plays are chosen and then performed by

professional actors at the Loretto-Hilton Center Mainstage.

GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT:

Springboard“Springboard teaching partners/artists go into the class-

room a couple of times a week,” says Hartmann. “The

children go through the process of creating an idea, devel-

oping the concept and characters, writing the play and

getting it published in playbook format.

“Some of the kids get to see their play go from an idea

in their head to being produced on a live stage,” she con-

tinues. “And for the ones whose plays are not selected,

theirs are done as reader’s theater in the classroom.”

Hartmann said granting organizations such as the Arts

and Education Council are critical to the health and growth

of non-profits such as Springboard.

“We [do not] have revenue streams such as classes

where students pay to participate or performances where

money comes from ticket sales,” she said. “Not having that

[revenue] makes our partnership with organizations such

as A&E that much more critical.”

To learn more, visit KeepArtHappening.org.

For the past five years, the Arts and Education Council

and Maritz have partnered to create a unique arts edu-

cation funding opportunity that directly impacts schools

and school-aged children. The award-winning “Maritz Arts

and Education Fund for Teachers” provides $25,000 in grants

annually to projects throughout the bi-state area. The pro-

gram goal is to support classroom-based projects and artistic

opportunities that engage students in the creative process.

The 2014/2015 grant recipients are:

Central Visual Performing Arts High School,

St. Louis, Mo. – Drum Line.

Clark-Vitt Elementary School, Union, Mo. –

Project Green Screen.

Fort Zumwalt North Middle School Special Education,

O’Fallon, Mo. – This Year We Will Travel the World.

Katie Harper-Wright Elementary School,

East St. Louis, Ill. – Peace & Edutainment.

McCluer High School, Florissant, Mo. – Hairspray, the Musical.

Normandy Schools Collaborative, St. Louis, Mo. –

Operation Elementary Piano Lab.

Oakville Middle School, St. Louis, Mo. – Scientific Investigations Within a Visual Arts Environment: Eco-Printing with Plant Fiber on Paper.

Scope Alternative School, St. Louis, Mo. –

Art & Gardening as Therapy.

For more information on the Maritz Arts and Education

Fund for Teachers including detailed project descriptions,

visit KeepArtHappening.org/money/maritz_2015.

NEW GRANTS ANNOUNCED:

Maritz and A&E Partnership Funds Arts Education in Schools

Students participating in the WiseWrite program

6

ON-GOING DISCOUNTS WITH THE ARTS CARD

JAZZ ST. LOUIS offers 2-for-1 admission

to most of its 9:30 pm shows Wed-Thurs. For

details call 314.571.6000 or go to jazzstl.org

JANUARY EVENTS

REPERTORY THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

WHEN: Jan 7-Feb 1; Tues, 7 pm; Wed-Fri, 8 pm;

selected Wed, 1:30 pm; Sat, 5 pm;

Sun, 2 pm & selected 7 pm

WHERE: Browning Mainstage at the Loretto-

Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Rd., Webster Groves

COST: $17.50-$79.50

DISCOUNT: 2-for-1 admission with ARTS Card

Jan 7-18

A new adaptation of the award-winning film

explores family and acceptance and asks which

has the greater hold on our hearts. 314.968.4925

or repstl.org

COCA PRESENTS

Perpetual Motion

WHEN: Jan 10-11; Sat, 2 & 5 pm; Sun, 1 & 4 pm

WHERE: 524 Trinity Ave., University City

COST: $14-$18


for 2 pm show only

The New Year kicks off with this high-energy

dance concert featuring the talented members

of COCAdance and the COCA Hip-Hop Crew

performing a mix of cutting-edge hip-hop and

contemporary dance in a wide range of styles.

For all ages. 314.561.4877 or cocastl.org

ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY

Mozart’s Jupiter Symphony

WHEN: Jan 17-18; Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 3 pm

WHERE: Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis

COST: $30-$109


for Sun, Jan 18, 3 pm performance only

(excludes box seats)

Hailed for music-making of tremendous emotion,

Richard Goode joins the orchestra for Mozart’s

Piano Concerto No. 17, while David Robertson

leads Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony, a work

foreshadowing the work of Beethoven.

314.534.1700 or stlsymphony.org

NEW JEWISH THEATRE

Imagining Madoff

WHEN: Jan 22-Feb 8, Wed-Thurs, 7:30 pm;

Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 2 pm & first Sun, 7:30 pm

WHERE: Wool Studio Theatre at the Jewish

Community Center, 2 Millstone Campus Dr.,

Creve Coeur

COST: $38-$42

DISCOUNT: 2-for-1 with ARTS Card

A moral investigation set as an imaginary conver-

sation between convicted Ponzi schemer Bernie

Madoff and a righteous Holocaust survivor and

poet. 314.442.3283 or newjewishtheatre.org

ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY

Beethoven Mass in C major

WHEN: Jan 23-24; Fri, 8 pm; Sat, 8 pm


COST: $30-$109


for Fri, Jan 23, 8 pm performance only


The STL Symphony and Chorus join forces

for the first subscription performance of

Beethoven’s glorious Mass in C. Paired with his

lighthearted Symphony No. 8, this all-Beethoven

program warms your spirit. 314.534.1700 or

stlsymphony.org

COCA THEATRE COMPANY

Mirette

WHEN: Jan 23-25; Fri, 7 pm,

Sat, 2 & 5 pm, Sun, 1 pm


COST: $9


Mirette is an imaginative, musical adaptation of

the award-winning children’s book, set in late

19th century Paris. 314.561.4877 or cocastl.org

SAINT LOUIS CLASSICAL GUITAR SOCIETY

Spanish Guitarist Angel Romero in Recital

WHEN: Jan 24, Sat, 7:30 pm

WHERE: Sheldon Concert Hall,

3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis

COST: $26-$30

DISCOUNT: $4 off with ARTS Card

Spanish Guitarist Angel Romero in a rare solo

recital of music by Sanz, Mudarra, Scarlatti, Sor,

Granados, Albeniz and Tarrega. 314.229.8686 or

guitarstlouis.net

SHELDON CONCERT HALL

Sheldon Classics: Africa

WHEN: Jan 28; Wed, 8 pm



COST: $30 orchestra, $25 balcony


on full price tickets only (Tickets are avail-

able by presenting the card in advance at

the Fox Theatre Box office at 531 N. Grand,

or on the night of show at The Sheldon Box

Office between 7-8 pm)

St. Louis Symphony principal percussionist Will

James is joined by pianist Peter Henderson and

other members of the St. Louis Symphony for

music inspired by the rhythms and sounds of

Africa. 314.533.9900 or sheldonconcerthall.org

ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY

All Bach

WHEN: Jan 30-31; Fri, 10:30 am & 8 pm; Sat, 8 pm


COST: $30-$109


for Fri, Jan 30, 8 pm performance only


Johann Sebastian Bach and family are high-

lighted in this program led by St. Louis audience

favorite Nicholas McGegan, featuring seven

of the St. Louis Symphony’s own musicians.

314.534.1700 or stlsymphony.org

DANCE ST. LOUIS

Tango Buenos Aires

WHEN: Jan 30-31; Fri, 8 pm; Sat, 2 & 8 pm

WHERE: Touhill Performing Arts Center,

One University Blvd., St. Louis

COST: $40-$65, matinees are $40

*2-FOR-1 & SPECIAL DISCOUNTS Please present your Arts and Education Council ARTS Card at the ticket counter or box office in order to receive a discount. The 2-for-1 offer is for two people per card; whether it extends to more than two persons is at the discretion of the participating organiza-tion. ARTS Card holder discounts are not recognized by electronic ticket outlets and may not be used to purchase subscription tickets. Expired ARTS Cards will not be accepted. For up-to-the-minute calendar additions, see the calendar on our website: KeepArtHappening.org/schedule.

20152015JA N - F E B

Events Key Cinema Classical Dance Jazz Music Speaker Theater Visual Arts

7


for any performance (parterre sides or grand

tier seating only. Limit 2 complimentary

tickets. Offer not valid with any other offer or

on previously purchased tickets. No exchanges

or refunds.) Offer expires at 3 pm on 1/30/15.

A passionate, expressive journey of the life of Eva

Perón through dance and music. 314.534.6622 or

dancestlouis.org

FEBRUARY EVENTS

THE BLACK REP

Stick Fly

WHEN: Feb 4-22; Wed-Thurs, 7 pm;

Fri-Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 3 pm

WHERE: Emerson Performance Center

at Harris-Stowe University

COST: $25-$45


A wealthy African-American family gathers in

Martha’s Vineyard for a few super-charged days,

and the results are gasp-worthy revelations.

314.534.3810 or theblackrep.org

COCA PRESENTS

Continuing the Legacy

WHEN: Feb 6-7; Fri, 7 pm; Sat, 5 pm


COST: $10-$14


for 5 pm show only

Written and directed by COCA alumnus

Christopher Page, Continuing the Legacy uses

dance as a vehicle to take audience members

through black history – from slavery to the jazz

era, through the civil rights movement, to mod-

ern times. Includes imagery that may be disturb-

ing to young children and is recommended for

ages 10 and up. 314.561.4877 or cocastl.org

MUSTARD SEED THEATRE

White to Gray

WHEN: Feb 6-22; Thurs-Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 2 pm

WHERE: Fontbonne University Fine Arts Theatre,

6800 Wydown Blvd., Clayton

COST: $30, $25 for students and seniors

DISCOUNT: $10 off with ARTS Card (enter

promo code artscard)

Love or Loyalty? This romance between a

Caucasian man and Japanese-American woman

comes under attack when bombs drop on Pearl

Harbor. 314.719.8060 or mustardseedtheatre.com

ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY

Dvorák 8

WHEN: Feb 7-8; Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 3 pm


COST: $30-$109


for Sun, Feb 8, 3 pm performance only


French conductor Stéphan Denève leads

Debussy’s sensuous Afternoon of a Faun and

Dvorák’s Symphony No. 8, a work that brings

the sounds and folk melodies of the Bohemian

countryside to life. 314.534.1700 or stlsymphony.

org

REPERTORY THEATRE OF ST. LOUIS

The Winslow Boy

WHEN: Feb 11-March 8; Tues, 7 pm; Wed-Fri,

8 pm; selected Wed, 1:30 pm; Sat, 5 pm; Sun,

2 pm & selected 7 pm

WHERE: Browning Mainstage at the

Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road,

Webster Groves

COST: $17.50-$79.50


Feb 11-22

When young Ronnie Winslow is expelled from

military school for stealing a five-shilling postal

order, his father wages an exhaustive fight to

clear his son’s name. What begins as a private

matter quickly becomes a larger question of the

rights of the individual against the power of the

state. 314.968.4925 or repstl.org

COCAbiz

bizSESSION Speaker, Dave Gray: Principles Of Agility

WHEN: Feb 19; Thurs, 7:30 am


COST: $55

DISCOUNT: $15 off with ARTS Card

Dave Gray is the founder of the design con-

sultancy XPLANE and author of two best-

selling books Gamestorming: A Playbook for

Innovators, Rulebreakers, and Changemakers

and The Connected Company. His current proj-

ect is Boardthing, which is quickly evolving into

an elegant, easy-to-use collaboration/visual

thinking tool. Gray’s upcoming book, Principles

of Agility, looks at how agility contributes to

success in complex and uncertain environments.

314.561.4898 or cocastl.org

COCA PRESENTS

Walking the Tightrope

WHEN: Feb 21-22; Sat, 2 & 5 pm; Sun, 1 & 4 pm


COST: $14-$18


for 2 pm show only

Written by Mike Kenny, one of England’s lead-

ing writers for young audiences, Walking the

Tightrope is the creative and moving story of a

grandfather and granddaughter who must rede-

fine their relationship after Grandma leaves to

“join the circus.” 314.561.4877 or cocastl.org

SHELDON CONCERT HALL

Sheldon Classics: Asia

WHEN: Feb 25; Wed, 8 pm



COST: $20 orchestra, $15 balcony


on full price tickets only (Tickets are

available by presenting the card in advance

at the Fox Theatre Box office at 531 N.

Grand, or on the night of show at The

Sheldon Box Office between 7-8 pm)

Beautiful and imaginative works by Debussy,

20th century composer Toru Takemitsu, and

top composers of today - Bright Sheng and Tan

Dun. 314.533.9900 or sheldonconcerthall.org

DANCE ST. LOUIS

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

WHEN: Feb 27-28; Fri, 8 pm; Sat, 7 pm

WHERE: Touhill Performing Arts Center,

One University Blvd., St. Louis

COST: $30-$55


for opening night only (parterre sides or

grand tier seating only. Limit 2 complimentary

tickets. Offer not valid with any other offer

or on previously purchased tickets. No

exchanges or refunds.) Offer expires at 3 pm

on 2/27/15.

Contemporary ballet with a European twist:

the top-flight dancers of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet

combine rugged athleticism with liquid grace.

314.534.6622 or dancestlouis.org

ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

WHEN: Feb 27-March 1; Fri, 8 pm; Sat, 8 pm;

Sun, 3 pm

WHERE: Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd.,

St. Louis

COST: $30-$109


for Fri, Feb 27, 8 pm and Sun, Mar 1, 3 pm

performances only (excludes box seats)

Violinist Augustin Hadelich returns to perform-

ing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, a tour-de-

force that will dazzle with its sizzling technical

displays and tender melodies. 314.534.1700 or

stlsymphony.org

SAINT LOUIS CLASSICAL GUITAR SOCIETY

Martha Masters, classical guitar

WHEN: Feb 28, Sat, 8 pm

WHERE: Ethical Society of St. Louis,

9001 Clayton Rd., Ladue

COST: $24-$28


Classical Guitar Performance by one of the

world’s finest young guitarists in her St. Louis

debut. 314.229.8686 or guitarstlouis.net

8

In the fall of 2013, Circus Harmony, an Arts and Education

Council PNC Project Grant recipient, was one of the first

organizations to utilize A&E’s new crowdfunding website,

power2give.org. The “Peace Through Pyramids: Send the

St. Louis Arches to Israel,” project was a collaboration

between Circus Harmony and the Galilee Foundation for

Value Education’s “Galilee Circus.” Since 2007, the Galilee

Arches, as the combined group is called, have forged lasting

friendships despite language barriers and cultural gulfs. The

power2give.org project helped raise the necessary funds to

send the St. Louis Arches to Israel to perform.

A group of kids and teens left St. Louis for northern Israel

on July 9, 2014, just a day after Hamas began bombing the

nation. Despite fears from some people, Circus Harmony

reached out to people in the area who assured them the

part of the nation they would be staying in was safe. While

in Israel, Circus Harmony teamed up with the Galilee Circus

to perform shows for local people. During their time abroad,

the children stayed with families in the area, some Jews with

Arabs and vice versa, exemplifying that despite the conflict

in the region, the two groups can peacefully coexist. The

troupe of 27 children performed for two weeks in various

locations in front of diverse audiences. However, just as the

trip started with excitement, it also ended with a bang. The

night before Circus Harmony was supposed to return to St.

Louis, the FAA cancelled all flights from Israel to the United

States. The Israelis who had opened their homes to the chil-

dren welcomed them back and people donated food to feed

the troupe. The group ended up staying in Israel for another

week, and even got in a few extra performances.

Rabbi Marc Rosenstein, founder of the Galilee Circus,

wrote about the collaboration in his online Galilee Diary in a

post entitled The Show Must Go On. He wrote, in part, “these

young circus artists did what circus artists do: they worked

hard, learned together and from each other, and performed

with all their hearts, for a variety of audiences, Arab and

Jewish, through two weeks of conflict. Black and white,

Jewish and Arab, boys and girls — 27 kids building a temporary

utopia of mutual trust, of multicultural friendship, of taking

risks to make people smile — in a dystopian reality of fear and

hatred of the Other. And they made it look easy...So yes, we

have to keep on defying gravity, in order to remind ourselves

— and the world — that what seems impossible — is not.”

In November 2014, Circus Harmony used power2give

once more to raise money to help produce a CD of original

music called “Circus Harmony’s Ascension CD.” Ascension is

a new recording by Adam Rugo and the Circus Harmony

band. The CD is composed of many different music styles

and is sure to fit a variety of tastes from rock to bohemian,

classical to R&B. The recording for the CD is complete, but

Circus Harmony needed additional funds to cover musicians’

sessions fees, duplication costs, songwriter and producer

fees and money for supplies. Portions of the proceeds from

the sale of the CD will benefit Circus Harmony’s Reggie

Moore Memorial Scholarship Fund, which helps young peo-

ple follow their dreams of being in the circus.

Did you know that power2give.org is the only crowd-

funding site dedicated to arts and culture? Since its

launch in 2011 by the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte,

NC, power2give.org has raised over $7 million in aggre-

gate funds across 2,700 projects in 24 different cities.

In today’s changing philanthropic landscape, power-

2give.org has become a powerful new fundraising tool.

Locally, power2give.org/GreaterStLouis launched in

November 2013 with the support of the Arthur and Helen

Baer Foundation and has since raised more than $132,000

and helped fund 42 local arts projects. Power2give.org

projects range from helping expand arts programs in

schools to providing a new theater floor to providing bus

transportation to a play to creating a virtual choir.

Keep checking power2give.org/GreaterStLouis for

weekly updates and new projects in need of your support.

POWER2GIVE.ORG/GREATERSTLOUIS SUCCESS STORY:

The St. Louis Arches in Israel

St. Louis Arches performing in Israel

9

Althelia Powell-Thomas lives

and works her passion. Few

things in life give her greater

joy than singing. “It’s always been

something I loved,” she says in a voice

that is soothing and smooth. “It’s a

family thing. I always sang in the

church choir and still do. And I have

been singing with the St. Louis

Symphony’s IN UNISON® Chorus since

its inception in 1994.” IN UNISON® is

a mostly volunteer, 120-voice audi-

tioned ensemble that performs a vari-

ety of musical styles, with a focus on

the music of African-American and

African cultures. The choir typically

performs three or four times a year.

In addition to singing, Powell-

Thomas has become a major cheer-

leader for the arts by heading up the

Arts and Education Council’s

Workplace Giving Campaign at the

St. Louis Housing Authority, where she

works as an administrative assistant in

Althelia Powell-Thomas speaking at

St. Louis Housing Authority’s 2014

Workplace Giving Campaign Kick Off.

WHY I GIVE

the Human Resource Department.

She has worked at the agency for

nearly 20 years and has been coordi-

nating its Workplace Giving Campaign

since 2003, raising almost $50,000

for the arts during that time.

“I like being the coordinator

because it engages me not only with

the fundraising aspects but also allows

me to be one-on-one with each

employee,” she explains. “I tell them

about the ARTS Card, which provides

discounts to so many wonderful arts

performances and events in town. I also

encourage them to venture out to dif-

ferent arts groups so they can see what

a difference their dollars are making.”

Powell-Thomas believes the arts are

integral to building self-esteem, espe-

cially among young people. “I love to

see people develop,” she says. “When

I was a child growing up I made a vow

to my mother that her investment in

me would not go in vain. She always

made sure I had the best of everything.

Music was on top of the list and in that

aspect I feel I kept my promise.”

In these hard economic times,

Powell-Thomas notes that getting

employees to give has been challeng-

ing, but she is proud that the Housing

Authority has been participating in a

workplace giving campaign for A&E for

20 years, since 1994.

“I consider A&E like family,” she says.

“And I always work hard and try to do

what’s best for my family. I want the money

to go to enrich someone else’s life.”

DONOR SPOTLIGHT:

Althelia Powell-Thomas

The St. Louis Symphony is known for its tradition of

stellar music at a great venue in Powell Hall. One key

component to the Symphony family over the past 20

years has been the IN UNISON® Chorus. The Chorus, which was

created for a one-time performance of Hannibal Peterson’s

African Portraits in 1994, has become a 120 member, audi-

tion-only, mostly volunteer Chorus. Just like the Symphony,

members perform on the stage of Powell Hall, but the

group places an emphasis on performing traditionally

African-American music and pieces from African culture.

The IN UNISON® program first started with the goal of

partnering with churches and community members to get

more African Americans though the doors of Powell Hall. Each

year, the Symphony offers discounted tickets to churches who

are members of the program, and Symphony musicians make

regular visits to churches taking part in the program. While most

of the Chorus members are volunteers, a small number are

part of the Symphony’s Young Artists Program, which provides

scholarships for college students to further their music educa-

tion, with a goal of having a greater presence in local colleges.

The Chorus, as told by its director Kevin McBeth, is made up

of professional and amateur singers of all backgrounds and

professions: lawyers, college students, professionals, doctors

and homemakers are all represented. McBeth, appointed in

January 2011, is in his fourth year as director of the Chorus.

“For 20 years, this Chorus has been a prominent part of

the Symphony and the community,” says McBeth. “For a lot

of reasons, and even more so now with the issues we’re facing

in our city, having a group like this as part of the Symphony

just speaks to the whole diversity of the city.”

The Chorus performs three concerts per year in December,

February and April. But, it is most well-known for its annual

concert in February, celebrating Black History Month. This

year’s show takes place on Feb. 13, and features Grammy®

Award winning singer Patti Austin in a program that will

honor influential leaders who helped shape history.

“The Black History Month Concert is an annual tradition,

and everything we do is pointing toward that history,”

McBeth says of the February performance. “The concert has

become a focal point of unity and love.”

This year’s concert also features a special piece by St. Louis

composer and musician Adam Maness. Maness’ composition,

Divides that Bind, is an eight minute ensemble piece which

was originally written for the #HealFerguson concert in

September 2014 .

For more information about IN UNISION® Chorus, visit stlsymphony.org.

The St. Louis Symphony is an Arts and Education Council grantee.

RAISED VOICES:

IN UNISON® Chorus

Althelia Powell-Thomas singing with the IN UNISON® Chorus

10

Be prepared to be dazzled,

St. Louis. Ben Nordstrom is in

the house!

Nordstrom, performer extraordi-

naire, will be the emcee of the 24th

Annual St. Louis Arts Awards, which

takes place Monday, January 19, in the

Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park

Plaza. This year’s gala will begin with

a cocktail reception at 5:30 pm, fol-

lowed by dinner and awards at 7 pm,

with Nordstrom hosting the action.

“I’m very excited about the event

because I’ve been at the awards a

couple of times and know what a big

deal the evening is,” says Nordstrom,

38. “I also think the mission of the Arts

and Education Council is really cool —

how it supports so many arts and arts

education organizations in St. Louis.

I’m just hoping to add a little charm

and entertainment value to what I

already know will be a great event.”

For those unfamiliar, Nordstrom is

an incredible talent — an actor who

has starred in dramatic productions

nationwide as well as in musical come-

dies. He acts, he sings, he dances, he

tells jokes — basically, he’s the whole

package. He lives with his wife,

Kristen, the general manager at

STAGES St. Louis, and their 10-year-

old son, Sam, in Ballwin.

Nordstrom, who grew up in

Oklahoma, came to St. Louis to attend

Webster University’s Conservatory of

Theatre Arts, which he graduated

from in 1999. He met Kristen, a native

St. Louisan, when she was choreo-

graphing a show at the Arrow Rock

Lyceum Theatre during a summer

between school years – Nordstrom

was performing in the show. At the

time though, she was living in New

York. After college, he moved there to

be with her and find work. “I had a

great time and did plays around the

country as well as small productions in

New York,” he says.

In 2004, the Nordstroms moved

back to St. Louis so that Kristen could

take a job running the new Crate &

Barrel store here. “I stumbled around

for a while doing commercial

voiceovers and industrial videos, and

then got really into the theater scene

here, which is fantastic,” he says.

A few years ago, Kristen got another

call from Crate & Barrel, this time ask-

ing her to come back to New York. So

the family did, but after a couple of

years they moved back to St. Louis

when Kristen got the job with

STAGES. They’ve been back about 15

months. “St. Louis is totally where we

should be, we had built such a nice life

here with family and friends,” says

Nordstrom. “Luckily, we had hung

onto our house when we went back to

New York so when we returned here,

we could move right back in.”

Since coming back, Nordstrom,

who is the winner of two Kevin Kline

Awards, has had no shortage of theat-

rical work. He is due to star in the next

Mustard Seed Theatre production,

“White to Gray,” February 6-22, fol-

lowed by a featured role in the New

Jewish Theatre’s “My Mother’s Lesbian

Jewish Wiccan Wedding,” May 7-31.

This comes after just completing a play

at HotCity Theatre in December, a star

turn last summer in STAGES’ “How to

Succeed in Business Without Really

Trying” and in the Muny’s “Billy Elliot.”

“Good acting is good acting and

good directors are good directors

regardless of what city you’re in and

St. Louis has no shortage of both —

there are a lot of extremely talented

people who have chosen to make this

city their home. And we’re much

richer for it,” says Nordstrom. “What’s

also wonderful about St. Louis is how

close-knit the theater community is. I

know it sounds kind of cliché, but we

are like a family. There are some direc-

tors here I would drop anything for to

be in a show of theirs.”

For information about tickets and

sponsorships for the 2015 St. Louis

Arts Awards, please contact Kate

Francis, A&E’s Vice President of

Development, at 314.289.4003.

Follow #STLArtsAwards on Twitter for

ongoing announcements or visit our

Facebook page at facebook.com/

artsandeducation.

2015 St. Louis Arts Awards Performances:

Brian Owens with members of the St. Louis Symphony

Youth Orchestra

The Life of King Henry the Fifth — William Shakespeare

Prologue performed by Anderson Matthews

Act 1, Scene 2 performed by Jim Butz and

Anderson Matthews

Denise Thimes, jazz vocalist

2015 ST. LOUIS ARTS AWARDS:

Meet the Emcee: Ben Nordstrom Lan

ce T

ilfo

rd

11

Dr. David Knes, superintendent of

the Valley Park School District,

learned to appreciate the arts

and arts education early in life growing

up with a dad who was an art teacher

before he became a principal. So when

Dr. Knes (pronounced KA-nay-z) was

asked to become the 2015 Chair for the

Arts & Education Council’s Education Division Workplace

Giving Campaigns, he said yes for two reasons:

“I did it because I know firsthand how important the arts

are and I did it because I was asked,” he said. Monies raised

from the Arts & Education Council’s annual Workplace

Giving Campaign fund nearly 70 nonprofit arts and arts

education organizations throughout the 16-county, bi-state

region. “The arts present such a fantastic opportunity for

students to get involved in school,” said Knes. “Everyone

knows, research has proven, that the more students feel

connected to school, the more successful their educational

experience will be.”

After agreeing to become the 2015 Education Division

Chair, Knes personally reached out to superintendents in

school districts throughout St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln and

Franklin counties, asking them to get involved in workplace

giving. He underlined to them not only the value of arts

education but also how painless it is for teachers, faculty and

administrators to give to the Arts and Education Council.

“We try to show our staff how easy it is to give through

payroll deduction or by using their credit card,” he said.

“For example, they can spread their gift over 24 weeks

through payroll deduction and they won’t even realize any-

thing is being taken out of their check.”

Knes said another way to motivate staff to give is by

offering awards if they donate. “We have a drawing every

day through the week that we do our campaign in February,”

he explained. “We’ll pull a name out of a hat and the winner,

for example, may get the principals and me to wash their

car or something like that. We try to make the prizes fun.”

Knes has been in the Valley Park district for 11 years –

eight as superintendent and three as assistant superinten-

dent. He was a principal in the Clayton and Rockwood

school districts prior to that. His wife is an assistant super-

intendent in the Rockwood School District and the couple

has two sons, both in college.

When asked how he would measure his success as

Education Division Chair, Knes didn’t hesitate: “Success

would look like 100 percent participation and we would

meet or exceed our goal.”

Circle of Giving October 1, 2014 – November 30, 2014

$25,000 and aboveThe Boeing CompanyMr. and Mrs. Kenneth S.

KranzbergMonsanto Fund

$5,000 - $9,999.99BKD, LLPBryan Cave LLPMr. and Mrs. David O. GiffordMrs. Priscilla McDonnellNestle Purina PetCare CompanyJohn M. Olin Charitable TrustThe Regional Arts CommissionWebster University

$2,500 - $4,999.99Basso at the Cheshire Dr. William H. DanforthForum Studio Inc.Greater Saint Louis Community

FoundationGreensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.HOKMr. A. Janssen LongeneckerCharles and Janet MeyerMoneta GroupJames and Merry MosbacherMs. Ruthe PonturoPricewaterhouseCoopers LLPMr. and Mrs. James ProbsteinRubinBrown LLPShakespeare Festival St. LouisStifelSt. Louis Building & Construction

Trades Council, Local 562Thompson Coburn LLPU.S. BankUniversity of Missouri – St. LouisWashington University Libraries

$1,000 - $2,499.99Mr. and Mrs. Stephen F. BrauerMs. Sara B. BurkeEric Cunningham and

Kate FrancisDr. and Mrs. Tim EberleinEngelhardt Family FoundationGretta Forrester, Forrester Family

Fund of the Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation

Fox Family FoundationMr. and Mrs. Sam FoxMr. and Mrs. Walter J. GalvinMs. Barbara B. GoodmanMr. Matthew HutchisonMr. and Mrs. Ward M. KleinThe Lawrence GroupLinda and Paul LeeMr. and Mrs. John F. McDonnellThe Millstone FoundationThe Muny TheatrePenny Pennington & Mike FidlerAlthelia Powell-ThomasMs. Cynthia A. ProstDr. Mabel L. Purkerson

The following donors have made gifts that enable the Arts and Education Council to help preserve St. Louis’ legacy of artistic excellence and enrich its cultural community. A&E appreciates the continued support from these individuals, businesses and organizations. Thank you!

WORKPLACE GIVING SPOTLIGHT:

Education Campaign Chair: Dr. David Knes

Marcia and Kevin QuintMr. and Mrs. William C. RusnackMr. and Mrs. Terry E. SchnuckMr. and Mrs. Andrew SrencoDr. Mark Weil

$500 - $999.99Tony BardolMr. Robert BattsMr. and Mrs. James G. BergesCOCA Center of Creative ArtsMr. Tom B. DomianEcho Valley FoundationShaconda FryeMr. Shawn L. GibbsMs. Marylen Mann and

Mr. Franklin A. JacobsSusan Rowe Jennings and

Michael JenningsMrs. Nancy KalishmanWilliam S. KnowlesMr. and Mrs. Alan C. KohnMiss Amy LampeMr. and Mrs. Kenneth R.

LangsdorfMelissa and Scott LenzMr. and Mrs. Christopher N.

LewisMr. and Mrs. Joseph O. LososMs. Cheryl A. LovellMr. Thomas E. LowtherMr. Roger M. MaconMs. Eileen K. McLoughlinMs. Lisa MelandriMr. and Mrs. Robert J. MesseyMr. Collin T. MooreTimothy and Kara Graziano

O’LearyMr. Johnnie E. Roland, Jr.Ms. Karen M. SchneiderMr. and Mrs. Joe SoerSt. Louis Children’s ChoirsSusan and Drexel StithMarianne and Donald WeberMr. and Mrs. Peter WernerMs. Kelly E. WiederholtAndrea and Jeremy Yoder

In honor of Ken & Nancy KranzbergThe Millstone Foundation

In honor of Ameren and Tom VossMr. Deane H. Looney

In honor of Tom Voss and Warner Baxter

Mr. and Mrs. A. Dennis Sparger

In honor of Tom and Carol VossMs. Anne Kessen Lowell

In Memory of Dr. Leslie RichMr. and Mrs. E. R. Thomas, Jr.

In Tribute October 1, 2014 –

November 30, 2014

Non-Profit Org.US POSTAGE

PAIDST LOUIS MO

PERMIT NO 3619

2013 Missouri Arts Award-Philanthropy

Centene Center for Arts and Education

3547 Olive Street

St. Louis, Missouri 63103-1014

your gift to A&Egrows into millionsof art experiences, making a vibrant

community for all.Donate today to the 2015 Annual Campaign.

Visit KeepArtHappening.org to make an online donation.

2012 Spirit of Philanthropy Award

/ArtsAndEducation ArtsAndEducSTL@ArtEdStl/GreaterStLouis

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