[Archived] Alexandria Commission for the Arts Honors Outstanding Individuals and Organizations at the 2006 Alex Awards

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	November 7, 2006 PIO# 248-06/jbh	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

Alexandria Commission for the Arts Honors
Outstanding Individuals and Organizations at the 2006 Alex Awards

Almost 200 people attended the Alexandria Commission for the Arts’ 2006 Alex Awards on Friday, October 20 to honor outstanding individuals and organizations for their contributions to the cultural fabric of the Alexandria community. The annual Alex Awards promotes interest and involvement in the arts by recognizing excellence in four categories: Artistic- Excellence in an Artistic Discipline; Community - Excellence in Service to the Arts; Education - Outstanding Contributions to Arts Education; and Business - Innovative Partnerships between Businesses and the Arts.

Chip Brienza, WGMS on-air personality, served as the master of ceremonies for the program, held at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center. The winners were recognized by Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille and Pat Miller, chair of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts.

Major producing and presenting sponsors of the event were: Mayor William D. Euille; Mr. & Mrs. Gant Redmon; Jack Taylor's Alexandria Toyota; A Show of Hands; Del Ray Artisans; First Night Alexandria; Councilman Ludwig P. Gaines; Jennifer Walker, McEnearney Associates; and Wilson Grand Communications.

The 2006 Alex Award winners include:

� Special Recognition Alex Award – Suzanne S. Brock was recognized for devoting herself to encouraging and supporting the arts for the last 36 years. A musician and the mother of musicians, she has brought the highest quality of musicianship to the Alexandria community. She created the mechanism for Alexandria children desiring exposure to high quality music with that opportunity.

� Excellence in an Artistic Discipline – Eclipse Chamber Orchestra received the Award for offering outstanding musical performances and opportunities for Alexandria audiences to hear world-class musicians and conductors. Over the past fourteen years, Eclipse Chamber Orchestra’s youth organization has prepared hundreds of young musicians to pursue their education in the arts.

� Excellence in Service to the Arts – Gwen Harrison Lockhart, an artist herself, was recognized for guiding the Art League through a difficult growing period, reorganizing the board and the organization and encouraging others to be involved.

� Outstanding Contributions in Arts Education – Laura Wollman spent 36 years teaching in the Alexandria City Public Schools. She was recognized for creating arts-across-the-curriculum programs and enriching learning for Alexandria children.

Two of the four recipients of this year’s Alex Awards received a uniquely framed piece of artwork by artist Matthew Harwood. The multi-dimensional watercolor paintings were inspired by blossoming Yoshino cherry trees in front of his Alexandria home. Two recipients received a unique ceramic sculpture created Jennifer Hatfield. Ms. Hatfield’s vessels have granted her several awards and prizes at definitive shows throughout the country, including the Smithsonian and the Renwick. In addition, each recipient of the 2006 Alex Awards received a brass star draped on a blue ribbon created by David M. Martin, GoldWorks, Inc.

The presentation of the awards was intermingled with musical and dance presentations by Commission grantees and poetry. Audiences enjoyed performances by the Washington Balalaika Orchestra; The Alexandria Choral Society Children’s Chorus; Jane Franklin Dance Company; Siobhan Quinn; and the Choreographers Collaboration Project; and the T. C. Williams Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Terrell LeVaughn Ambrose; “ Music,” a poem by Taylor Dohmen, Alexandria City Public Schools’ Youth Poet Laureate, presented by Emily Breeding, a student at George Washington Middle School; and a tribute to Alexandria’ Past Poet Laureate Jean Elliot, presented by Mrs. Dona Deleon.

For more information about the Alex Awards or other Commission programs, call 703-838-6348.

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