PARTNERS’ ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
May 17, 2014
PARTNERS for the Arts celebrated this anniversary in high style! Thanks to the generosity of our gracious hostess, Mrs. Shahin Mafi, who opened her beautiful home and garden to us, the festivities on May 17, 2014 to commemorate PARTNERS’ first anniversary were elegant and memorable.
Shahin Mafi and Barry Mehler
It was the perfect occasion to showcase the talents of some of the singers who competed in the final round of our first vocal awards competition last fall. Prizewinners Joshua Baumgardner and Jeffrey Gates along with finalist Merideth Marano entertained us with a varied program that ranged from Mozart to modern, accompanied by our “resident” pianist, Dr. Frank Conlon, who has played for all of our musicales to date and our vocal competition.
Many of the guests who were with us at the inaugural event in March 2013 that launched PARTNERS for the Arts were present to hear our soloists and to enjoy the bounteous buffet and charming house and garden.
Representatives of our partners who joined us included Maestro Stan Engebretson, artistic director of the National Philharmonic Chorale; Maestro John Edward Niles, program director of the American Wagner Project of The Wagner Society of Washington DC; and Maestro Robert Wood, executive and artistic director of UrbanArias.
Maestro Stan Engebretson and Bob Misbin
Professor Frank Conlon and Maestro John Edward Niles
Maestro Robert Wood and Leilane Grimaldi Mehler
In addition, we had the pleasure of the company of the following friends of the arts:
Alison Adler, on the board of directors of The Embassy Series; Sevil Altinsoy, representing Turkish Airlines; Barbara Bahny David, representing the Willard Hotel; Graham Down, president emeritus, The English-Speaking Union of Washington, DC; Dr. Joyce Hagel-Silverman, executive vice president of Washington International Piano Arts Council; Muriel Hom, founder of Opera International; Dr. Wanda O’Brien Trefil, president of Virginia Opera’s Bravissimo Society; David Ryan, representing Opera Guild of Northern Virginia; and from The Wagner Society of Washington DC: Aurelius Fernandez, president emeritus; Betty Byrne and Lynne Lambert, both on the board of directors.
Some pictures to highlight our event
Deborah Fischer-Joy and Eva Salmoiraghi
Vibeke Lofft and Su Kim Eisenberg
Felipe Rodrigues, Barbara Bahny and Stan Stadhagen
Cyd Everett, Barbara Bahny, Leilane Grimaldi Mehler, and Mary Bird
Maestro Stan Engebretson, Dr. Wanda O’Brian-Trefil, Dr. James Trefil,
Dr. Joy Hagel Silverman, and Jan Duplain
Our hostess Shahin Mafi and Robert Gair
Tom Helenski and Dr. Robert Miller
Dr. Mary Catherine Fischer and Dr. Mike Moneta
Leilane Grimaldi Mehler and Partners’ IT guru Tomm Sibert
Soprano Merideth Marano and Baritone Jeffrey Grayson Gates
Elspeth and Grace George
Shahin Mafi’s niece, nephew, and Jan Duplain in the center
Shahin Mafi and Sevil Altinsoy
Front row from the left: Venice Molivadas, Dr. Marjorie Williams and Jackie Havener
Middle row: Betty Byrne, Maestro Robert Wood, and Dick Fuller
Right rear: Diane Stanley and John Edward Niles
Lynne Lambert and Frank Conlon
Graham Down and Leilane Grimaldi Mehler
Our most sincere thank-you to our hostess Shahin Mafi,
Victoria Tresansky for underwriting the singers’ expenses,
MacArthur Beverages for donating the wines for our events, and
Mary Bird
Mary Bird for taking the pictures of our event.