Dr. Noel Jackson (second from left) and Mike McCullough (fourth from left) congratulate each other on winning trips to Costa Rica in the Southern Great Lakes Symphony Backstage Pass 2 live auction. Also shown are Downriver Idol contest winner Laurie Mata (left), Debbie Jackson and SGLS board member Judy Gullen. The event was held March 26 at the Wyandotte Arts Center. McCullough also served as a bar-tender at the fund-raiser.
By Evelyn Cairns
More than 160 people gathered at the Wyandotte Arts Center March 26 to help the Great Lakes Symphony achieve its goal of raising $19,000 at its second Backstage Pass benefit.
The orchestra surpassed the goal by more than $1,000, reported SGLS board president Neil Johnson.
Guests purchased tickets at $30, $50 and $100 (VIP) levels for an evening that included music from classical to jazz by the SGLS full orchestra and ensembles, food, wine and live and silent auctions.
Highlighting the event were vocal performances by Laurie Mata, winner of the symphony’s recent Downriver Idol contest, and Lara Semetko, who was a finalist in the competition.
More than 25 board members took part in making the event a success, said Debbie Nykiel, event chairman. Among those assisting her were Doug Scott; music; Deb Kennedy, sponsors; Debby Mitek, tickets; Jenny Simon, VIP arrangements; and Johnson, auc-tion.
Hospitality chairmen Karen Skrocki and Megan Smith decorated the VIP tables with black tablecloths, white musical notes and stars, and vases of red and white carnations.
VIPs received wine or pub glasses etched with the symphony logo as souvenirs of the occasion.
Live-auction items included accommodations in Costa Rica and on Lake Charlevoix. Among the many prizes in the silent auction were wine baskets, restaurant certificates, artwork and jewelry.
The event was catered by TV’s Deli & Diner.
Entries sought for exhibition
The Downriver Council for the Arts is seeking entries for its annual all-media Members’ Show, to be held June 17 through July 23 at the DCA Headquarters in the Wyandotte Arts Center, 81 Chestnut.
The cost for participation is $10 for members, or $30 for non-members (including the entry and membership fees).
The works must be original, ready for hanging and available for sale (a commission will be paid to the DCA) and not previously shown at the DCA, a spokeswoman for the organization said, adding that there is no size limitation.
Registration forms are available online, and works will be accepted on June 8.
A sneak preview will be available to those who attend the DCA’s third Pasta & Puccini fundraiser on June 16.
An opening reception with the artists is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. on June 17.
Fund-raiser set for estate
Supporters of the Henry Ford Estate – Fair Lane will gather at The Henry, formerly the Ritz-Carlton, April 16 for an annual black-tie dinner dance to benefit the estate.
Cocktails will be served beginning at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7 p.m. The Teen Angels will play for dancing until 1 a.m.
Members of the honorary committee for the benefit include Ann and Robert Knoop and Linda and Richard Kughn, all of Dearborn; Claudette and Jack Rourke of Allen Park; and Waltraud Prechter of Grosse Ile.
Among the dinner-dance committee members are Ann Knoop and Rita and Walter Talamonti, all of Dearborn, and Claudette and Jack Rourke and Kevin Rourke of Allen Park.
Edsel B. and Cynthia Ford are honorary chairs, and Alan R. Mulally is chair.
Tickets, $250, are available by calling Breon Moriarty at (313) 593-3889 or e-mailing [email protected]
Coming up . . .
April 11 — Class in the Cooking with Style series at The Henry, formerly the Ritz-Carlton, “Travel America’s 50: American Classics”; 5:30 p.m.; cost, $120 (guests can join students for dinner only for $75); Leslie Jacobs of Leslie Jacobs Associates will speak and present table-setting ideas; for more infor-mation, call Jacobs at (248) 646-4517 or Colin Berens at (313) 253-4357.
April 13 — Illustrated lecture on artist Paul Gauguin by Michael Farrell, professor of art history at the University of Windsor; 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wyandotte Arts Center, 81 Chestnut; for tickets, $15 ($10, Downriver Council for the Arts members; $5, full-time students with valid ID), call the DCA at (734) 720-0671; reservations are available with PayPal.
April 15, 16 — “Edges,” song cycle presentation by the AKT Theatre Project; 8 p.m. at the Wyandotte Arts Center, 81 Chestnut; for tickets, $10, call (734) 258-8370 or e-mail [email protected]