The Celebration of the Arts had a different look and feel this year, but it was still a fantastic evening. We welcomed nearly 200 guests to the Jim Rouse Theatre in Columbia, while another 100 joined us via live-stream. It was truly wonderful to come together again to experience the arts, and we’re pleased we were able to present an event worthy of the extraordinary artists and arts advocates we celebrated.
The evening began with a Special Art Auction Preview, with selected works from the online Celebration Art Auction displayed for in-person viewing and bidding.
The Rising Star Performing Arts Competition, always a crowd-pleaser, featured eight finalists with a diverse range of talents. Their stellar performances made it difficult to select a favorite. When the ballots were tallied, MaryKate Brouillet was awarded the title of 2021 Rising Star for her exuberant performance of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s “How Lucky Can You Get” from Funny Lady. Congratulations to MaryKate and all of our amazing finalists!
The evening also included the presentation of the Howie Awards, given for outstanding contributions to the arts in Howard County. This year’s Howie honorees were Linda Joy Burke, Outstanding Artist; Eric Posner and Patty Hunter, Outstanding Arts Educators; and Phyllis Madachy, Outstanding Community Supporter of the Arts (presented posthumously). A special Legacy in the Arts Award was presented to Linda and Philip Press.
We’d like to extend a big ‘thank you’ to our Celebration committee members and volunteers – this event would not be possible without your diligent efforts! We greatly appreciate your support!