Perfect Ten
Performances, honorees and winners combine for an ideal afternoon at the Tribute to the Classical Arts.
by David Lee Simmons
He may not have appeared in person, but the spirit of Moses Hogan filled the 10th annual Tribute to the Classical Arts luncheon held Feb. 5 in the La Nouvelle Ballroom of the Hotel Monteleone.
Hogan, who suffered a serious stroke last fall, was unable to accept the Outstanding Contribution to the Classical Arts award given him this year. Roger Dickerson, who recently retired as the university choir director and music coordinator at Southern-New Orleans, delivered a moving tribute to the man who has been credited for bringing the American Negro spiritual to symphony orchestras around the world. Hogan's parents accepted the award in his place, and the Dillard University Choral Ensemble (under the direction of S. Carter Davenport) performed two works -- one written by Hogan and another that inspired his work.
The program began with awards honoring outstanding achievement in classical music, opera and dance, with WDSU-TV anchor Norman Robinson serving as master of ceremonies. Loyola's Dean Angeles received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Robinson and last year's winner David Morelock. The Arts Council of New Orleans' Shirley Trusty Corey presented this year's Arts Education Award to the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, accepted by executive director John Fairlie. And Jeri Nims was a popular winner of the Arts Patron Award after having touched the lives of multiple institutions with her philanthropy for the performing arts. University of New Orleans Chancellor Greg O'Brien and NOCCA Institute's Sally Perry joined in presenting the award to Nims.
Several performances delighted the sell-out crowd of 350. UNO graduate piano student Dilyara Shiderova performed a pre-program set, followed by an aria from Gianni Schicci by Xavier University's Opera Workshop -- nominated for Creative Achievement in Opera. The Delta Festival Ballet's Jessica Touchet delivered a solo selection from Hansel & Gretel, which was nominated for Best Ballet Production. Best Ethnic Dance Performance winner Sunanda Nair performed a selection. And members of the Newcomb Dance Company presented an excerpt from the award-winning"Concentric Concerto," choreographed by Alice Pascal Escher.
This event is made possible through the generous support of Gambit Weekly, WWNO 89.9 FM Radio, the Hotel Monteleone, Bitsie Werlein, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, Uptown Costume & Dancewear, and Smith & Wollensky Restaurant. Proceeds from the Tribute to the Classical Arts benefit the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education.
10th ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO THE CLASSICAL ARTS AWARD WINNERS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dean Angeles of Loyola Unversity
PATRON OF THE ARTS AWARD
Jeri Nims
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Moses Hogan
ARTS EDUCATION AWARD
The Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra
BEST CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Piano Perfection
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Klauspeter Seibel, conductor, Lilya Zilberstein, piano
BEST CHAMBER MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Program of Beethoven, Baker and Schumann
Loyola Piano Trio
Valerie Poullette, violin; Allen Nisbet, cello, H. Jac McCracken, piano
BEST NEW CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
"Symphony #4"(world premiere), from Psalm of Peace
Stephen Dankner, composer
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre
BEST OPERA PRODUCTION
Turandot
Directed by David Morelock for the New Orleans Opera Association
CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA
Jay Lesenger
Direction ofSalome
New Orleans Opera Association
BEST CHORAL ARTS PRESENTATION
Carmina Burana (Carl Orff)
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Steven Edwards, music director
Orpheum Theatre
BEST BALLET PRODUCTION
Fall Concert
Loyola Ballet
Laura Zambrano, director
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
BEST MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
An Evening of Dance
Newcomb Dance Company
Contemporary Arts Center
BEST ETHNIC DANCE PERFORMANCE
"Mohini Attam," from DramaRama
Sunanda Nair and disciples
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (NEW WORK)
Megan Zuchowski
"Gold"
Loyola Fall Concert
Hogan, who suffered a serious stroke last fall, was unable to accept the Outstanding Contribution to the Classical Arts award given him this year. Roger Dickerson, who recently retired as the university choir director and music coordinator at Southern-New Orleans, delivered a moving tribute to the man who has been credited for bringing the American Negro spiritual to symphony orchestras around the world. Hogan's parents accepted the award in his place, and the Dillard University Choral Ensemble (under the direction of S. Carter Davenport) performed two works -- one written by Hogan and another that inspired his work.
The program began with awards honoring outstanding achievement in classical music, opera and dance, with WDSU-TV anchor Norman Robinson serving as master of ceremonies. Loyola's Dean Angeles received the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by Robinson and last year's winner David Morelock. The Arts Council of New Orleans' Shirley Trusty Corey presented this year's Arts Education Award to the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, accepted by executive director John Fairlie. And Jeri Nims was a popular winner of the Arts Patron Award after having touched the lives of multiple institutions with her philanthropy for the performing arts. University of New Orleans Chancellor Greg O'Brien and NOCCA Institute's Sally Perry joined in presenting the award to Nims.
Several performances delighted the sell-out crowd of 350. UNO graduate piano student Dilyara Shiderova performed a pre-program set, followed by an aria from Gianni Schicci by Xavier University's Opera Workshop -- nominated for Creative Achievement in Opera. The Delta Festival Ballet's Jessica Touchet delivered a solo selection from Hansel & Gretel, which was nominated for Best Ballet Production. Best Ethnic Dance Performance winner Sunanda Nair performed a selection. And members of the Newcomb Dance Company presented an excerpt from the award-winning"Concentric Concerto," choreographed by Alice Pascal Escher.
This event is made possible through the generous support of Gambit Weekly, WWNO 89.9 FM Radio, the Hotel Monteleone, Bitsie Werlein, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, Uptown Costume & Dancewear, and Smith & Wollensky Restaurant. Proceeds from the Tribute to the Classical Arts benefit the Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education.
10th ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO THE CLASSICAL ARTS AWARD WINNERS
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Dean Angeles of Loyola Unversity
PATRON OF THE ARTS AWARD
Jeri Nims
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Moses Hogan
ARTS EDUCATION AWARD
The Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra
BEST CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Piano Perfection
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Klauspeter Seibel, conductor, Lilya Zilberstein, piano
BEST CHAMBER MUSIC PERFORMANCE
Program of Beethoven, Baker and Schumann
Loyola Piano Trio
Valerie Poullette, violin; Allen Nisbet, cello, H. Jac McCracken, piano
BEST NEW CLASSICAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE
"Symphony #4"(world premiere), from Psalm of Peace
Stephen Dankner, composer
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre
BEST OPERA PRODUCTION
Turandot
Directed by David Morelock for the New Orleans Opera Association
CREATIVE ACHIEVEMENT IN OPERA
Jay Lesenger
Direction ofSalome
New Orleans Opera Association
BEST CHORAL ARTS PRESENTATION
Carmina Burana (Carl Orff)
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Steven Edwards, music director
Orpheum Theatre
BEST BALLET PRODUCTION
Fall Concert
Loyola Ballet
Laura Zambrano, director
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
BEST MODERN DANCE PRODUCTION
An Evening of Dance
Newcomb Dance Company
Contemporary Arts Center
BEST ETHNIC DANCE PERFORMANCE
"Mohini Attam," from DramaRama
Sunanda Nair and disciples
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (NEW WORK)
Megan Zuchowski
"Gold"
Loyola Fall Concert
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