Celebrated violinist Elmar Oliveira captivated guests at the 19th annual Laurel Awards Celebration with a surprise performance to honor his friend, Maestro Stewart Robertson, one of four Laurel Award recipients last Friday evening at an elegant dinner, hosted by the Cultural Council of Indian River County to recognize exemplary cultural arts leadership.
The Riomar Country Club was decorated by artwork from local galleries and centerpieces designed by Flametree Clay Gallery artists. In addition to a delicious dinner and the Oliveira performance, guests were entertained during dinner by pianist Jacob Craig, joined between award presentations by soprano Danya Etter.
The John J. Schumann, Jr. Award for Business Leadership was presented to Phil DeLange, president of White Glove Moving, Storage and Delivery and Pak Mail Beachside. For more than 25 years, DeLange and his dedicated staff have transported the precious cargo of artists, galleries, patrons of Under the Oaks and even the fully decorated trees from Festival of Trees in a safe and professional manner.
“We’ve always felt an important part of the community is the arts,” said DeLange. “The artists and the art lovers and the things that we do here are unique from any other place we’ve been to in the country.”
A new Willie C. Reagan Award for Educational Arts Leadership was instituted this year. Reagan, an original Highwayman, who taught art education for 30 years in the IRC school system, presented the award to Bridget Lyons, a visual arts teacher at Indian River Academy. Lyons works closely with teachers, administrators and parents to broaden the cultural arts experiences of students at the Title 1 school, where the economics of poverty have had a negative impact. Her impressive resume includes multicultural experiences over 20 years as a teacher both nationally and internationally.
“To realize our possibilities, we all need to exercise curiosity,” said Lyons. “I am here as the voice of our students and families in Indian River Academy, and to recognize that every child needs a platform to recognize their own creativity and believe in their sense of possibility.”
“A glimpse of this beautiful community is testimony to dedicated volunteer efforts,” said Alma Lee Loy, presenting the Award for Volunteer Leadership named after her to Anita Astrachan, a longtime volunteer at Riverside Theatre and Hibiscus Children’s Center.
Astrachan, a former speech and drama teacher in New York with an infectious love of theater, is a Riverside Patron Producer, and serves on its board and Friends committee. To instill that same passion in the next generation, she developed and funded a program to enable high school students to attend performances at no cost.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed by this honor!” said Astrachan. She gave special thanks to everyone at Riverside saying, “It’s become my extended family.” Of the importance of introducing students to the theater, she added, “They need to learn about culture; it’s not being done in the schools enough. There’s so much to learn by attending the theater. It teaches them about life.”
“What a delight to have a surprise performance by your good friend, the world-renowned Elmar Oliveira; a lovely tribute to you,” said Richard A. Stark, presenting the Award for Cultural Leadership named after him to Robertson, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra. Robertson, who announced his retirement at the end of this 25th season, accepted the baton from ACO founder Andy McMullan in 2004. Early on he began branching out in partnership with other institutions and concert venues, introducing a new generation of composers through world premier performances to the appreciation of his growing audiences.
“It’s just staggering to be at an event like this, surrounded by friends and colleagues. We forget at our own peril how much we are all connected; this is all about connectedness this evening. We all together are much stronger than we are separately.” Giving special thanks to Barbara Hoffman, Cultural Council board chairman, Robertson said the challenge of creating awareness of cultural opportunities does not lie with the Cultural Council alone. “It’s all of our duties to tell our friends about what riches we have here.”
“It’s the spirit and the depth and the richness of the community and the arts that give us the common experiences that makes this place so very special,” concluded Master of Ceremonies John Moore.
