Walnut Hill, New York, New York
THANK YOU to the many alumni, families, and friends for making Walnut Hill, New York, New York a great success!
A stunning display of work by current Visual Art students and an impressive reading by current students of the Writing Studio at the Park Central Hotel kicked off the weekend's events with over 75 alumni, families, Trustees and friends in attendance. Brainchild of Associate Head for the Arts Roger Shoemaker, the performance at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium, with a record-setting attendance of almost 2000 audience members, was an amazing collaboration of alumni artists, faculty and students. "[This production] required the participation and extraordinary levels of time, talent and energy of dozens of Walnut Hill students, faculty, and staff members," says Shoemaker. "I am very proud, not only of the level of the finished performance, but of the dedication of all involved. I have the privilege of being backstage and watching our students and faculty display the professional attitude and relationship to artistic work that is the key component to on-stage success."
From the students' perspective says senior music major Patrick McGuire, "Playing on stage at Carnegie Hall felt absolutely incredible. The Hall has such a rich history and a deep symbolic meaning to musicians. Honestly, I felt uncomfortable wearing jeans and sneakers to the dress rehearsal!" And Molly Evans, senior theater major, says "It was the biggest and most beautiful stage I have ever seen. I tried to take it all in during rehearsal so that I wouldn't be nervous when it was time to go out on stage that night." And Molly Evans, senior theater major, says "It was the biggest and most beautiful stage I have ever seen. I tried to take it all in during rehearsal so that I wouldn't be nervous when it was time to go out on stage that night."
Highlights of the program included:
- World-renowned concert pianist Hae Sun Paik '83 performing the Brahms Piano Quintet in F Minor, Opus 34 with current students
- Students performing premiere works by longtime Walnut Hill Ballet Department faculty member Diane Arvanites-Noya (Pasillos (Corridors)) and Walnut Hill Trustee Ralph Farris '89 (12 Highland), both choreographed and composed respectively in honor of Stephanie Perrin
- Sara Sessions '87 took the stage to recognize publicly the contributions of longtime Ballet Department faculty member Samuel Kurkjian followed by Boston Ballet soloist Melanie Atkins '91 dancing with current students in Debussy Suite, choreographed by Kurkjian
- Kelly McWilliams '06 and Amanda Picardi '08 reading their works of prose and verse respectively from the stage
- A full orchestra of student and alumni accompanying current Theater Department students in a moving Broadway Musical Medley
- Full orchestra with student and alumni vocalists performing Vaughan-Williams' Serenade to Music conducted by Artistic Director of the New England Conservatory at Walnut Hill program Benjamin Zander
- A gorgeous arrangement of the Walnut Hill School song by composition faculty member Whit Brown
- Alumni soloists Meredith Lustig '05 and Nils Neubert '03 leading a chorus of almost every current Walnut Hill student for "Make Our Garden Grow" from Bernstein's Candide conducted by WH Director of Music Evan Bennett
"I will admit to being deeply moved by the transition from the playing of the School song into 'Make Our Garden Grow,'" says Shoemaker. "That was a moment, a palpable experience created by the rapt attention of 2000 people focused on the inspiration and institution that is Walnut Hill School."
In between the stirring performances, awards were bestowed on the School's special guests as well as the guest of honor. Walnut Hill's Wendy Wheeler Award for Arts Education was presented to Ballet Hispanico of New York, an organization devoted to teaching and celebrating Latino Dance. Later in the program, New England Conservatory (NEC) President Tony Woodcock and Dean of the New England Conservatory Division of Preparatory and Continuing Education Mark Churchill bestowed an honorary doctorate on Stephanie Perrin. "[Stephanie] is a visionary educator, and an impassioned, life-long advocate of the power of the arts to transform lives," said Woodcock. "She is also a tireless champion of arts education for all children, understanding that such study allows youngsters to see themselves and others as unique persons of worth, and prepares them for personal, academic, and professional success."
Almost half a million dollarswas raised in support of the School's financial aid fund, which assists 51% of the student population. President of the Board of Trustees Betsy Paine McClendon '65 took the stage at Carnegie Hall to thank everyone for their support of the School's mission. She also announced that The Fund for the Future, the three-year $12.3 million initiative to celebrate and build on Stephanie Perrin's legacy at Walnut Hill, has already been exceeded with $15.3 million raised and has been extended to a goal of $20 million by June 2010.
Following the Gala performance at Carnegie Hall, Alumni Weekend in New York commenced with a lively gathering of alumni at Johnny Utah's in midtown Manhattan. Cuy Bolles '88 was on hand to receive the Young Alumni Award. Then on Saturday morning, over 75 alumni and guests shared a delicious brunch with Head of School Stephanie Perrin at Tavern on the Green and alumni awards were presented to Pam Apostol Kukla '63 (Non Nobis Solum Award) and Hae Sun Paik '83 (Distinguished Alumni Award).
It was a jam-packed weekend of revelry for the entire Walnut Hill community. Thank you to everyone for being there…in person or in spirit!
For the more news of the weekend's events and lots of photos, click here.
