After a one-year hiatus, the Tribute to the Classical Arts awards return for its 13th awards gala.

The awards recognize achievement in dance, opera and classical music. The recovery of New Orleans, performing arts has been remarkable since Hurricane Katrina, and this year's event recognizes performances from 2006 as well as some from 2005 that would have been eligible for awards last year. Several special awards will honor some of the individuals whose leadership helped arts organizations survive, perform exciting new works and even reach new heights.

Lifetime Achievment Award-winner Faina Lushtak

Special award honorees include Faina Lushtuk, Babs Mollere, Betty Brooks Doss and Robert Lyall. The head of the piano department at Tulane University, professor Lushtuk is an accomplished composer and performer, recently recognized by Steinway for her vituousity. She began playing piano at the age of 6 and studied under top masters in the Soviet Union. Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra managing director Babs Mollere is being honored for her work in keeping the orchestra and its members connected and busy when the group had no home. The LPO played in tandem with the New York Philharmonic, developed new relationships with orchestras around the country and has found creative new ways to perform in New Orleans. The creative director for the New Orleans Opera Association, Robert Lyall brought worldwide attention to the city and its performing arts by creating A Night for New Orleans, featuring Placido Domingo, in March 2006. The evening required a bold vision and generous support to create such a grand and memorable event. Betty Brooks Doss shared that vision and helped make it possible, for which she is also receiving special recognition.

The performing arts have much to celebrate in New Orleans, particularly after what has been a memorable year. The Tribute to the Classical Arts has recognized achievements annually since 1994.

Angela Hill will host the awards gala, which is sponsored by Gambit Weekly, WWNO Radio, Uptown Costume & Dancewear, Hall Piano Company and Adler's Jewelers. The event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Monteleone Hotel. Tickets are $40 each or $400 for a table for 10. For information and reservations, contact executive director Gloria Powers at 483-3129.

Special Honorees

The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2007
Faina Lushtak, Tulane's Newcomb College of Music

Classical Arts Patron Award
Betty Brooks Doss, Board Member of the New Orleans Opera Association

Special Recognition Award winner Babs Mollere

Arts Education Award
New Orleans Ballet Association

Special Recognition Award
Babs Mollere, Managing Director of the LPO

Classical Music & Opera Awards Nominations

Best Classical Music Performance

All Russian
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director, Carlos Miguel Prieto
Loyola University, Roussel Hall

Mahler Symphony No.5
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with the Baton Rouge Symphony
Timothy Muffet, Conductor
First Baptist Church

Prieto Conducts Strauss
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Music Director
Orpheum Theatre

One Mississippi River will receive a Special Achievement award in dance.

Best Chamber Music Performance

Musica de Camera
Blue Roof Medieval Blues
Milton G. Scheuermann Jr., Thais St. Julien, Directors

Music at Midday Series
Tulane University, Rodgers Memorial Chapel

New Orleans Chamber Trio
Patti Adams, Cathy Anderson, Richard Woehrle
Loyola University, Roussel Hall

String Quartet Concert for Habitat for Humanity Musicians Village
Valerie Poullette, Amy Thiaville, Allen Nisbet, Daniel Avshalomov
Temple Sinai Sanctuary

New Orleans Ballet Theatre is nominated for Best Classical Ballet Production for Fleeting Moments of Beauty.

Best Performance of New Classical Music (Contemporary)

Apres Moi, Le Deluge (World Premier)
Mozart: a 250 year celebration,
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Steven Edwards, Conductor

Trinity Artists Series
Festival of Living Composers
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Convention Center Theater

Best Opera Production

The Barber of Seville
Robert Lyall, Conductor
David Morelock, Stage Director
McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University The Marriage of Figaro
Robert Lyall, Conductor
Laura Alley, Stage Director
McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University

Siegfried
Robert Lyall, Conductor
Dejan Miladinovic, Stage Director
Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts

Creative Achievement In Opera

Robert Lyall
A Night for New Orleans with Placido Domingo
New Orleans Arena

Best Choral Arts Presentation

Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Klauspeter Seibel, Conductor
First Baptist Church

Jefferson Ballet Theatre';s The Nutcracker is nominated for Best Classical Ballet Production.

Mozart's 250th Birthday
Jefferson Performing Arts Society Chorale
Louise LaBruyere, Artistic Director
Metaire Ridge Presbyterian Church

Mozart Requieum
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Holy Name Church, Loyola University

Dance Awards Nominations

New Orleans Historical Moments from Loyola Ballet's spring concert is nominated for Best Modern Dance Presentation.

Best Classical Ballet Production

Time to Dance
Delta Festival Ballet
Loyola University, Roussel Hall

Fleeting Moments of Beauty
New Orleans Ballet Theatre
Loyola University, Roussel Hall

The Nutcracker
Jefferson Ballet Theatre

Gaite Parissienne
Komenka Ethnic Dance Ensemble
The New Orleans Dance Academy

Honored members of the New Orleans Opera Association include General and Artistic Director Robert Lyall (left) for Creative Achievement in Opera, and Opera Board Member Betty Brooks Doss for Arts Patron (pictured with Opera Board President Salvatore Panzeca).

Best Modern Dance Production

Orpheus
Tsunami Dance Company
Contemporary Arts Center,

Blues for Lower 9
Gabrielle Pickard
A Confederacy of Dances 8

Tenacious
Anne Burr
A Confederacy of Dances 8

New Orleans Historical Moments
Gayle Parmelee
Loyola Ballet Spring Concert

New Orleans Chamber Trio — Richard Woerhle, Cathy Anderson and Patti Adams — is nominated for Best Chamber Music performance.

Best Ethnic Dance Presentation

Ocean of Light
Happensdance

Komenka Ethnic Fallapalooza
Komenka Ethnic Dance & Music Ensemble
Betty Karam

DramaRama
Contemporary Arts Center

KakiLambe
Kumbuka Drum & Dance Collective

Lula Elzy's Dancing with Friends
Contemporary Arts Center

Best Choreography -- New Work

John Rodi, Daniel Gianfala
Bolero

Loyola Ballet Fall Conceert
Eddie Villalta

Love Letters for 3 Sisters
A Confederacy of Dances 8

Kettye Voltz
Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell

Tsunami's Orpheus
Mary Esther Tucker

Time in Motion
Loyola Ballet Spring Concert

Special Achievement in Dance

One River Mississippi -- New Orleans
Barbara Hayley, Monique Moss, Choreographers
Marylee Hardenbergh, National Artistic Director