"Lush Life" Gala Honors New Rochelle's Arts Leaders

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts celebrated its 40th anniversary by honoring the city’s arts leaders, including Tony and Oscar winning actress Frances Sternhagen, internationally acclaimed pop artist Charles Fazzino, musician and community volunteer Kathryn Donovan Wiegand, Viacom EVP Michael Armstrong, who is also President of the Board of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Christopher John Farley, an author who is also the arts and culture critic of the Wall Street Journal. The “Lush Life” 40th Anniversary Ruby Gala took place at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, recreating some of the glamour of the Big Band era, with 300 people attending.

Award-winning journalist and author (Postcards from Cookie) Caroline Clarke was the evening’s emcee and the Ed Laub Quartet with special guest star Gene Bertoncini performed a tribute to American composer Billy Strayhorn, whose centennial is being celebrated this year. (Guests took home a specially created CD of Stayhorn’s music courtesy of his niece, NRCA Board member Leslie Demus.) A swing dance performance by the Rhythm Stompers dance troupe capped the evening.

“The Lush Life Gala was our biggest fundraiser ever,” said NRCA President Theresa Kump Leghorn. “But more importantly it allowed us to honor some truly outstanding arts leaders in our community, and bring together a group of the city’s best and brightest to celebrate the importance of the arts in New Rochelle.”

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts was created by the New Rochelle City Council in 1975 to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts; for 40 years NRCA has worked to fulfill that mission by sponsoring art exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, and concert series. In addition, NRCA has sponsored public art -- like the popular Fleur-de-Lis sculptures downtown -- and created ArtsFest, while helping to build relationships between the arts, the business community and city government. The NRCA website www.newrochellearts.org has become major resource for artists and art lovers – the “go-to” place for information about the arts. Membership in NRCA is open to artists and non-artists alike, with members receiving special discounts and invitations to networking events and studio tours. For more information visit NRCA on the web at www.newrochellearts.org.