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The Hylton Performing Arts Center hosted its听 on Saturday, April 26, celebrating听15 years of artistic excellence in Manassas and throughout the Northern Virginia region.听The event welcomed 237 guests and raised $162,500听in support for the Hylton Center鈥檚 artistic programming,听, and听.听
Ten percent of net proceeds will also fund the Hylton Center鈥檚听, and funds raised through the Gala contribute to 黑料社鈥檚听Mason Now: Power the Possible, a university-wide comprehensive one-billion-dollar fundraising campaign.听
The Hylton Center鈥檚 15th Anniversary Gala festivities began at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, with a cocktail reception in the Didlake Grand Foyer,听featuring a French 75 signature cocktail crafted by MurLarkey Distilled Spirits.听Guests then enjoyed an elegant dinner on Merchant Hall stage, which was catered by听Susan Gage Caterers, before the evening鈥檚 program commenced.听听
Rick Davis, executive director of the Hylton Center and dean of 黑料社鈥檚 College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), opened the program with a dimming of the lights in memory of William Reeder, founding dean of CVPA, who passed away on April 12 and whose visionary leadership enabled the creation of the Hylton Performing Arts Center.听听
In a , Dean Davis and other important figures from the community looked back at the beginnings of the Hylton Center and toward its promising future. 鈥淎s we celebrate 15 years at the Hylton Center, we envision continued growth in the quality, the quantity, and the impact of the arts that we create here, and the arts we present," Davis said. "Everything that we do at the Hylton Center is a testament to the vitality of having a world-class performing arts center right in your community.鈥
Photo by Sean Kelley.
George Mason President Gregory Washington built on Davis鈥檚 remarks, 鈥淭he Hylton Performing Arts Center is a crucial component of George Mason鈥檚 broader role as a cultural hub for the region, a talent incubator for our students, and a gathering place for so many in our community. I鈥檓 proud to join in celebrating 15 impactful years of creativity and innovation in the arts, and express my deepest gratitude to the leaders, staff, and supporters who have brought us to this milestone anniversary.鈥澨
The honoree tribute was dedicated to听Marion Wall and Dominion Energy, two longtime champions of the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Wall was celebrated as听a steadfast supporter since the Hylton Center鈥檚 earliest days, who played a pivotal role in the planning, development, and ongoing success of the venue. Dominion Energy was recognized for making a profound impact on the cultural landscape of Northern Virginia, including investment in George Mason鈥檚 College of Visual and Performing Arts, programs like the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, and other benefits to ensure accessible arts experiences for all.
The event also included a live auction of unique arts experiences, Raise Your Paddle fundraiser, and wine-and-whiskey pull in support of the听Veterans and the Arts Initiative, which offers free workshops and concerts for local Veterans, Servicemembers, their families, and community members.听These activities raised more听than听$27,000听for the Veterans and the Arts Initiative, continuing the celebration of its 10-year anniversary and its mission of creativity and service.听
Photo by Sean Kelley.
The evening closed in a lively fashion with an after-party that听featured a mix of George Mason students and professional musicians in a 10-piece swing band from听, a swing dance experience led by dancers from听, a champagne skirt performer from听Carbone Entertainment, and a Blackberry Sage Smash cocktail听crafted by听.听
The Hylton Center鈥檚听15th Anniversary Gala was supported by many regional businesses and individual donors, including Presenting Sponsor听,听Cocktail Reception Sponsor Appliance Connection, Live Auction Sponsor United Bank, Raise Your Paddle Sponsor Todos Supermarket, Wine Pull Sponsor听Whitlock Wealth, and Wine Sponsor Thomas Sabal and Daniel Tucciarone. Other generous sponsors of this year鈥檚 event included:听City of Manassas; Rick Davis and Julie Thompson; Didlake; Dominion Energy; ECU Communications; 黑料社 Foundation; Carolyn Hays and Jeff Burke; The Law Office of Sheyna Nicole Burt, PLC; Micron Technology; Potomac Health Foundation; Sentara Health; Stanley Martin; UVA Community Health; Wall Foundation; and Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, & Walsh, P.C.听
To view additional images from the event visit the .听
Some of the notable guests in attendance included: Mayor of the City of Manassas Michelle Davis-Younger; Virginia State Senator Jeremy McPike and Sharon McPike; Virginia Delegates Briana Sewell, Ian Lovejoy, Josh Thomas, and Luke Torian; Manassas City Councilmembers Theresa Coates Ellis, Tom Osina, Ralph Smith, Ashely Hutson, and Mark Wolfe; Manassas City Manager and Hylton Center Executive Board Member, Steve Burke and Cary Burke; Prince William Board of County Supervisors Vice Chair Andrea Bailey and Reverend Cozy Bailey; Prince William Board of County Supervisors, Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry and Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin; Managing Member of Compton & Duling, LC Jason Hickman; Vice President and Site Executive of Micron Technology Virginia Delbert Parks; President of Pitkin鈥檚 Home Center Sarah Pitkin; Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian, P.C. President V. Rick Nishanian and Nunik Nishanian; Todos Supermarkets Owner Carlos Castro; President and CEO of NOVEC, Kristen Senechal; President of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, Jeff Joyner; Senior Policy Advisory of Nelson Mulling and Hylton Center Executive Board Member Rod Hall and Lena Hall; Artistic Director of Manassas Ballet Theatre Amy Wolfe; Hylton Center Executive Board Chair Sheyna Burt; Hylton Center Executive Board Vice Chair Joyce Connery; Hylton Center Executive Board Member the Honorable Ann Wheeler and John Wheeler; and Hylton Center Executive Board Member Gayle Whitlock and Bennett Whitlock, and Hylton Center Executive Board Member Kris Nohe and Martin Nohe.听
Interested in contributing to ensure the success of the next 15 years of the Hylton Center? Explore on the Hylton Center website.听听
Enjoy a video from the event, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Veterans and the Arts Initiative.