Friday, March 29, 2024

WESTERLY RI ANNUAL GALA

The Chorus of Westerly to hold Annual Gala at the Haley Mansion

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The Chorus of Westerly invites the public to join them for a magical Gala evening to raise critical funds for the not-for-profit arts organization on Thursday May 31, 2018, at 5:30 pm at the Haley Mansion, Inn at Mystic, 3 Williams Avenue in Mystic, Connecticut. Tickets are available at??chorusofwesterly.org, by calling??401.596.8663, or at the Kent Hall Box Office, 119 High Street, Westerly.??

The Annual Gala is the Chorus of Westerly???s largest fundraising event of the year. The 2018 benefit will be held for the third time at the picturesque Haley Mansion, a Colonial Revival mansion built in 1904. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 5:30 pm where guests will have the chance to mingle and step outside and enjoy breathtaking views of the sea. The cocktail reception will be followed by dinner prepared by the talented Harbour House culinary staff, a special performance by the Chorus of Westerly children and a live auction full of fun getaway packages and one-of-a kind experiences.

In addition to the live auction, the evening will feature two other avenues for guests to help the Chorus reach the Gala???s $40,000 fundraising goal. During the cocktail reception and throughout the evening special Chorus inspired raffle baskets will be on display with a chance to win some fabulous prizes generously donated by the sopranos, altos, tenors, basses, children and parents, and board of the Chorus of Westerly. Guests will also have the unique opportunity to own a piece of the historic George Kent Performance Hall. Over the past two years, the Chorus of Westerly has been fully engaged in major work on Kent Hall thanks to a grant of $1.4 million awarded through the 2014 Creative and Cultural Economy Bond. A major component of the project was the replacement of the original slate roof, which was completed in December 2017. Portions of the original slate roof, dating back to 1886, have been creatively crafted into commemorative keepsakes and will be available for guests to own a piece of history!

All proceeds from the Gala event benefit the Chorus of Westerly’s ongoing community music and outreach programs, as well as its performance programs such as the??Symphonic Concert Series, Christmas Pops, Summer Pops, the Collegiate Concert Series, and others.

Tickets for the Gala are $150, and a portion of the ticket cost is tax-deductible. Table Sponsor opportunities are also available for $1500, and include a table for eight persons and corporate sponsor benefits. To reserve your ticket call??401.596.8663??or visit chorusofwesterly.org??by May 25.

For more information on the Gala visit??chorusofwesterly.org, or contact Jessica Peters, Director of Advancement at??jessica@chorusofwesterly.org

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The 190-voice Chorus of Westerly is the nation???s only intergenerational symphonic choral ensembles. For each concert in its professional concert season, children ages 8 to 18 sing alongside adult singers as ensemble members of equal rank and expectations. Founded in 1959 by George Kent and today directed by Andrew Howell, the Chorus has had more than 2,500 area residents sing in its program, with more than 1,500 singing as child members. It is 59 seasons, the Chorus has presented nearly 700 performances to over 1.7 million people. The Chorus has performed in concert over 100 major choral works with fully professional orchestra and soloists, and has presented 13 major American premieres. While its home is in Rhode Island, the Chorus has toured internationally five times, singing in such venues as Smetana Hall in Prague, Stephansdom in Vienna, Westminster Abbey, and St. Peter???s??Basilica in the Vatican while also receiving countless awards for its work. The Chorus has also established regional traditions such as their annual Summer Pops??performance which is attended annually by 25,000 people. In addition to its extensive performance season, the Chorus also offers a broad reaching musical??education program to its singing members and area children. This includes an?????in rehearsal??? music fundamentals class for all child and adult singers focusing on sight-singing, theory, and other musical techniques, as well as an introductory music and movement class for children ages 4 to 6. The Chorus is also one of only three American choral organizations to own and operate its own performance venue – the??historic George Kent Performance Hall.