ARTS by George

At 2025 ARTS by George! donors support George �鶹��Ƶ student artists

Kristin Heydt — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:31:54 +0000

At 2025 ARTS by George! donors support George �鶹��Ƶ student artists Kristin Heydt Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:31

�鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) celebrated the 20th ARTS by George! benefit event on September 27.

From left, College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Rick Davis and award-winning artist Darren Criss lead a toast at the 20th annual benefit at the Center for the Arts. Photo by Cable Risdon Photography.

Headlined by Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning actor, singer, and songwriter Darren Criss, the evening’s festivities raised more than $289,000 in support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, and arts management, as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy (MCAA), Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts. This year’s donations and sponsorships bring the total of funds raised through ARTS by George! to more than $4.6 million since its inception in 2006.

“Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not, and you all are helping to provide that opportunity. When you support a student here, you support that student, their family, the university, our community, and your region, and I want to thank you,” said George �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington.

The evening featured 18 performances and exhibits by George �鶹��Ƶ students. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

During the evening, more than 230 CVPA students and faculty presented 18 performances and exhibits for guests to enjoy.

Students and faculty from the Dewberry School of Music performed jazz, opera, piano, and instrumental music in various ensembles and offering guests an exciting sample of upcoming performances on campus.
Students from the School of Theater captivated audiences with an excerpt from their upcoming production of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, including the entire cast performing the "Prologue" on the stage of Harris Theater.
School of Dance students impressed guests with their use of bodies in dialogue and the journey of freshman majors since arriving at school four weeks ago.
Student films from graduating seniors and alumni of the Film and Video Studies Program were on display in the immersive screening room.
Guests explored a gallery featuring sculptures created by students and faculty in the School of Art and �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions. Displays in the gallery also showcased the current exhibitions and events offered by �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions and the planned Arts District, including an expanded sculpture garden, for the Fairfax Campus.
Guests engaged with a photobooth from the Arts Management Program and created miniature art for the Free Little Art Gallery, created and managed in Arlington, Virginia, by Arts Management alumna Stacey Schwartz.
Students and faculty from the Computer Game Design Program led virtual reality demos in a dedicated gallery space, helping guests to understand the possibilities of the technology for professional training and other serious game innovations.
Talented young students from the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy performed musical selections on piano, saxophone, and violin, as well as performing "For the First Time in Forever" from their previous production of Frozen, Jr..
Guests, including President Washington and presidential partner Nicole Washington, danced and sang along during a performance from Green and Gold Soul, one of the Green Machine Ensembles. Led by Arts Management alumnus Bobby Lacy, the ensemble created a high-energy welcome for guests entering the Center for the Arts before the evening's headlining performance.

Recent George �鶹��Ƶ alumna Madison Koren had her film "Pas de Deux" screened at the event. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

In the Center for the Arts, a live Fund-A-Student appeal raised nearly $50,000 in just six minutes toward the total amount raised at the event.

“This outpouring of generosity is really breathtaking,” said CVPA Dean Rick Davis, after the Fund-A-Student appeal. “You are helping the next generation of young artists take flight, and you’ve clearly been inspired by what you’ve seen here tonight.”

In an annual tradition, a distinguished �鶹��Ƶ Arts graduate returned to the stage before the evening’s headlining concert. This year, School of Theater alumna Rebecca Wahls shared the trailer for her film Him and spoke to the audience about how her experiences as a scholarship recipient at George �鶹��Ƶ shaped her life. A dedicated educator and artist, Wahls is a long-time teacher with MCAA, working for her mentor and former professor Mary Lechter, now executive director of MCAA. Wahls also shared how in addition to enriching her career George �鶹��Ƶ is where she met her husband. Wahls said she used her Young Alumni Commissioning Project grant to hire an attorney to support the post-production process of her film, which is available now on multiple streaming platforms.

An Evening with Darren Criss followed, where the songwriter and performer shared songs from throughout his wildly eclectic career on Broadway and TV. The evening’s program concluded with an onstage champagne toast, during which Criss shared his enthusiasm for the cause of supporting arts students and thanked the ARTS by George! guests and supporters for being part of that effort.

For complete information about ARTS by George!, including scholarship stories, a schedule of student showcases, previous ARTS by George! images, and more, visit the event website.

The Presenting Sponsor for ARTS by George! 2025 is Atlantic Union Bank.

Learn more about ARTS by George!

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�鶹��Ƶ Arts

Center for the Arts

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

ARTS by George

Students

Scholarships

Annual benefit ARTS by George! raises more than $250,000 in support of �鶹��Ƶ Arts

Kirstin Franko — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 22:26:37 +0000

Annual benefit ARTS by George! raises more than $250,000 in support of �鶹��Ƶ Arts Kirstin Franko Wed, 10/02/2024 - 18:26

CVPA Dean Rick Davis raises a toast with Lea Salonga following her performance. Credit: Risdon Photography

�鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) celebrated another joy-filled and well-attended ARTS by George! benefit event on September 28. Headlined by Tony and Olivier Award-winning singer and actress Lea Salonga, the evening’s festivities raised more than $250,000 to support student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, and arts management, as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts. This year’s generous donations and sponsorships bring the total of funds raised through ARTS by George! since its inception in 2006 to nearly $4.4 million.

Gregory Washington, President of �鶹��Ƶ, was in attendance at the benefit event. “We’re proud that George �鶹��Ƶ is the cultural hub of our region. The arts is one of the front doors to attract visitors of all ages and backgrounds to our campuses. We’re pleased that so many of you have found your way through our door to become involved with CVPA, and to be here with us this evening,” he said.

Students from �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Dance performed rotating showcases in front of audiences. Credit: Risdon Photography

ARTS by George! began at 5 p.m. on September 28 with more than 225 CVPA students and faculty joining to present 18 performances and exhibits for guests to enjoy. The entire freshman class of George �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Dance launched the dance showcases, while an immersive screening room drew guests in to watch student films from the Film and Video Studies program. The School of Theater gave guests a preview of its upcoming fall musical production, the School of Art created an interactive photo booth installation, and Computer Game Design students and faculty brought guests into a new world with virtual reality demonstrations. Alumni from the Arts Management program joyfully reconnected with friends and faculty alike, posing for photos throughout the event, while vocalists and musicians from the Dewberry School of Music delighted guests with a variety of performances ranging from opera to jazz.

“ARTS by George! kicked off with dozens of showcases featuring gifted visual and performing arts students. For those of you lucky enough to experience it, I hope you were impressed not only with their immense talent, but also with the breadth and depth of what �鶹��Ƶ Arts has to offer,” remarked Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Ashlyn Rock, a graduate of �鶹��Ƶ’s Dewberry School of Music, sings for the Center for the Arts audience prior to Lea Salonga's performance. Credit: Risdon Photography

At 8 p.m., guests transitioned to the Center for the Arts for a live Fund-A-Student appeal that contributed more than $28,000 towards the total amount raised at the event. In a beloved annual tradition, a distinguished �鶹��Ƶ Arts graduate returned to the stage to perform before the evening’s headlining concert. This year, Dewberry School of Music alumna Ashlyn Rock offered a soaring rendition of “Sempre libera” from Verdi's La Traviata, receiving a standing ovation.

An Evening with Lea Salonga followed at 8:30 p.m., where the celebrated performer presented a concert of popular songs from her roles on Broadway and in animated films. The evening’s program concluded with an onstage champagne toast, during which Salonga and Davis mingled with CVPA students and faculty as well as ARTS by George! guests and supporters.

For complete information about ARTS by George!, including scholarship stories, a schedule of student showcases, previous ARTS by George! images, and more visit the event website. The Premier Sponsor for ARTS by George! was Dominion Energy and the Presenting Sponsor was Sandy Spring Bank. The event chair was Annie Bolger.

Lea Salonga (center) with �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington (right) and his wife Nicole Washington (left), following the performance backstage. Credit: Risdon Photography

In This Story

Rick Davis

Gregory Washington

View Images from 2024 ARTS by George!

Donate to the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

ARTS by George! 2024 Celebrates �鶹��Ƶ Arts, Culminating in Concert by Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga

Laura Mertens — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:26:26 +0000

ARTS by George! 2024 Celebrates �鶹��Ƶ Arts, Culminating in Concert by Tony Award Winner Lea Salonga Laura Mertens Wed, 08/28/2024 - 14:26

�鶹��Ƶ's College of Visual and Performing Arts Presents ARTS by George!, an Evening Celebrating �鶹��Ƶ Arts

ARTS by George! makes its return to �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus on September 28, 2024. Headlined by Tony and Olivier Award-winning singer and actress Lea Salonga, the annual benefit event raises funds for student scholarships at the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA), as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts. Since its launch in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million for �鶹��Ƶ Arts.

“‘Something for everyone’ might be an overworked phrase, but it fits ARTS by George! perfectly,” notes Rick Davis, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “From art and music to dance and theater, virtual reality to documentary film, the student showcases offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience the breadth and depth of what we do every day in �鶹��Ƶ Arts. I learn something new every year and become an even prouder Dean.”

ARTS by George! begins at 5 p.m. by bringing hundreds of CVPA students and faculty together to showcase performances and exhibits, as well as to offer a behind-the-scenes look at their collaborative process. The seven CVPA academic units will be featured in showcases, which are a highlight of the annual event.

The School of Art will host an antique photobooth and give demonstrations of 3D art and letterpress printing, while Arts Management will host a display of the Free Little Art Gallery created by a graduate from the program. School of Dance will offer two presentations by faculty members—Christopher d’Amboise on dancing to the music of Stravinsky and Karen Reedy on Robert Battle’s “The Hunt”—which also include live dancing by students. Film and Video Studies will screen a selection of films by students, and Computer Game Design will offer a presentation titled “Unlocking the Future: Game Design with A.I. and Mixed Reality.” Students in the areas of jazz, opera, classical piano, and percussion will perform, representing the Dewberry School of Music; and students from the School of Theater will stage selections from 110 in the Shade, this fall’s musical, and student-written plays to be premiered in The Originals! 2024. In addition, two �鶹��Ƶ Arts programs—the Green Machine Ensembles and �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy—will also offer performances throughout the event. These showcases will be held in the Harris Theatre, de Laski Performing Arts Building, and Horizon Hall. Guests will enjoy a buffet dinner and drinks over the course of the evening.

At 8 p.m., attendees will move into the Center for the Arts’ Concert Hall for a live Fund-a-Student appeal. The event culminates with a performance from Lea Salonga, starting at 8:30 p.m. Salonga will treat audience members to famous songs from her roles on Broadway and in animated films, and join them onstage for a champagne toast following the show. Beforehand, she will welcome George �鶹��Ƶ students for an open soundcheck and Q&A.

ARTS by George! Chair and �鶹��Ƶ Arts Board member Annie Bolger shared, “I’m thrilled to return as chair of this awe-inspiring event, which features George �鶹��Ƶ’s impactful arts programs and highlights the talents of its amazing students. I invite our community to join us for what promises to be a very special evening, and to support us in raising critical funds for student scholarships and community arts programs so that the exploration and creativity continues for years to come.”

For high-resolution images, press tickets, and interview requests, please email kfranko@gmu.edu and pr@camillecdevlin.com.

2024 ARTS by George! Schedule:

5 p.m., Harris Theatre, de Laski Performing Arts Building, and Horizon Hall

Showcases by the talented students from George �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, complemented by a buffet dinner and drink stations throughout the event.

8 p.m., Center for the Arts

Alumni performance and Fund-a-Student appeal.

8:30 p.m., Center for the Arts

An Evening with Lea Salonga, followed by an onstage champagne toast

Ticket and Sponsorship Information for 2024 ARTS by George!:

Individual benefit tickets are $350 per person and include entry to the student showcases, dinner, An Evening with Lea Salonga, champagne reception, and free garage parking. Each ticket includes a charitable donation portion directly supporting student scholarships and community arts programs.

Sponsorship packages begin at $2,000. To reserve tickets, become a sponsor, or for more information, please contact Susan Graziano at cvpagive@gmu.edu, 703-993-4188, or visit the ARTS by George! website.

Standalone tickets to only the 8:30 p.m. performance of An Evening with Lea Salonga are $50–$100 and are available for purchase through the Center for the Arts website.

The Premier Sponsor for ARTS by George! is Dominion Energy.

The Presenting Sponsor for ARTS by George! is Sandy Spring Bank.

Learn more about ARTS by George!

Purchase tickets for culminating concert, An Evening with Lea Salonga

“‘Something for everyone’ might be an overworked phrase, but it fits ARTS by George! perfectly.”

~ Rick Davis

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ARTS by George! 2023 Raises More than $275,000 to Support �鶹��Ƶ Arts

Zoe Harr — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:25:00 +0000

ARTS by George! 2023 Raises More than $275,000 to Support �鶹��Ƶ Arts Zoe Harr Tue, 10/10/2023 - 10:25

CVPA Dean Rick Davis holds Fund-A-Student auction prior to the evening's concert. Credit: Risdon Photography.

ARTS by George! returned on Saturday, September 30, 2023, hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at �鶹��Ƶ. The benefit event, which was headlined by GRAMMY and Tony Award winner Renée Elise Goldsberry, raised more than $275,000 for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts. With donations still coming in, ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million for the arts at �鶹��Ƶ since the event began in 2006.

The event gave students and faculty from each discipline an opportunity to present behind-the-scenes showcases, film screenings, performances, and interactive experiences. Programming was held in eight open studios, venues, and rehearsal halls across �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax campus, with beverage and cuisine stations offered throughout.

“ARTS by George! 2023 is in the books, and one for the books,” remarks CVPA Dean Rick Davis. “Thanks to a considerable village, this edition was quite possibly the most uplifting, free-flowing, artistically engaging version of this storied tradition. A hearty thanks to all the students, faculty, staff, and volunteers who made it work better than ever, and to Renée Elise Goldsberry for a generous, inspiring concert and toast, and to our patrons, donors, sponsors, and supporters of all kinds for whom we do the work.”

During the evening’s showcases, guests flowed in and out of three buildings on the Fairfax Campus: deLaski Performing Arts Building, Harris Theatre, and Horizon Hall. Inside deLaski, students from the Dewberry School of Music dazzled the crowd with the powerful voices of �鶹��Ƶ Opera students or the impressive instrumental skills ranging from piano to wind symphony. The Dewberry School of Music didn’t stop the beat all night, with talented instrumental and vocal musicians presenting piano, jazz, and opera selections during the nearly two hours of student showcases.

�鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy perform selections from Newsies. Credit: Risdon Photography.

Just down the hall, students from the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy presented previews of their work and in a separate room, Film at �鶹��Ƶ played selections on an array of television screens, inviting patrons to see what students had created in the program. In another wing of deLaski, emerging professionals of the �鶹��Ƶ School of Dance performed to packed houses. With both intimate dance performances, as well as the �鶹��Ƶ School of Dance’s collaboration with the Dewberry School of Music in their revival of “Come Sunday,” rooms were frequently filled shoulder to shoulder with enthusiastic audience members.

As guests made their way out of deLaski across the Johnson Center Plaza, they were enticed into Harris Theater by the sounds of �鶹��Ƶ School of Theater students. Alternating their time on the Harris stage, students astonished the crowd with songs from their upcoming production of 9 to 5 The Musical as well as a student-written one-act play by Dyllan Hutchinson entitled “So, Two Spies Walk Into a Restaurant,” which premiered earlier in The Originals! this September. More music flowed from the amphitheater space between Harris and Horizon Hall, where Green Machine’sFife and Drum ensemble as well as Green & Gold Soul, joined by dance group Emerald Desire, kept energies high as guests ambled along the walkway into Horizon Hall.

�鶹��Ƶ School of Theater students (left to right) Kamy Satterfield, Sarah Stewart, Emma Harris, Lexi Carter, Aiden Breneman-Pennas, and Brett Womack join Renée Elise Goldsberry on stage during the evening's concert. Credit: Risdon Photography.

Inside Horizon Hall, �鶹��Ƶ’s Computer Game Design program and Virginia Serious Game Institute created mini studios inside the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX), where guests explored a change of scenery with actual reality and virtual reality headsets. Also in the MIX, the School of Art and �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions gave guests a chance to play with printing, personalizing a postcard they could take with them as a memento of their experience, while elsewhere in the space, �鶹��Ƶ Computer Game Design and �鶹��Ƶ Exhibitions invited visitors to play selections from the 2023 Progress@Play Competition and Master of Art in Teaching students demonstrated 3D printing. In addition to the buffet within Horizon, �鶹��Ƶ Exhibition’s Metamorphosis, an exhibition created by �鶹��Ƶ faculty, decorated the space and a Dewberry School of Music student played guitar in the seating area to round out the spectacular mood in the space.

Dewberry School of Music alumni flutist Eduardo Fajardo. Credit: Risdon Photography.

After the showcases, guests transitioned to the Center for the Arts for a live Fund-A-Student Raise the Paddle event, which brought in more than $36,000 towards the total raised, prior to the performance by Renée Elise Goldsberry. Guests and concert-goers were also treated to Dewberry School of Music piano student Kai Shi and School of Music alumni flutist Eduardo Fajardo in a performance paired with personal anecdotes about the importance of student scholarships.

Capping off the evening, Renée Elise Goldsberry performed a concert culminating in multiple standing ovations, an explosive encore, and multiple sing-along moments from Hamilton fans in the exhilarated audience. Interspersed with personal anecdotes, Goldsberry emphasized the importance of student scholarships and love for young artists, noting that she started as one herself. For her final number of the evening, Goldsberry invited �鶹��Ƶ School of Theater students Kamy Satterfield, Sarah Stewart, Emma Harris, Lexi Carter, Aiden Breneman-Pennas, and Brett Womack to join her on stage in a medley from the musical Rent. With tears and shining smiles, the students bowed with Goldsberry stepping back to gesture to the students with a proud expression on her face.

Renée Elise Goldsberry and Rick Davis lead a champagne toast on stage. Credit: Risdon Photography.

After the show, Goldsberry and Davis ended the night with a champagne toast on stage for donors, students, and George �鶹��Ƶ faculty. Goldsberry reimagined Hamilton’s “Satisfied,” singing, “A toast to ARTS by George! and �鶹��Ƶ. To the donors and the teachers who are always by your side. To the students and the hope that you provide, may you always be satisfied!"

See more images from the event by visiting a gallery of images.

ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.1 million since it began in 2006, with net proceeds going toward student scholarships and community arts programs.

It’s not too late to contribute! Make a difference in the lives of �鶹��Ƶ Arts students, staff, faculty, community arts partners, as well as arts lovers of all ages in the region. For more information, please visit the CVPA website.

View Images from ARTS by George! 2023

Donate to the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

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College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) Arts Management Program

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) School of Music

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Dance

Computer Game Design

Film at �鶹��Ƶ

School of Art

College of Visual and Performing Arts School of Theater

ARTS by George! Returns, raising nearly $250,000 to support students in the arts at �鶹��Ƶ

Emily Schneider — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:55:40 +0000

ARTS by George! Returns, raising nearly $250,000 to support students in the arts at �鶹��Ƶ Emily Schneider Tue, 10/04/2022 - 16:55

In This Story

Rick Davis

Kristin Chenoweth (right) stands backstage with Dean Rick Davis of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at �鶹��Ƶ. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

“The full-scale return of ARTS by George! was a joyous experience from top to bottom,” exclaims Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

ARTS by George returned on Saturday, September 24, 2022, following a two-year hiatus, hosted by the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at �鶹��Ƶ. The event gave students and faculty from each discipline an opportunity to pull back the curtain and present behind-the-scenes showcases, film screenings, performances, and interactive experiences. Stations of exquisite cuisine and beverages were available to guests while attending exhibits across ten open studios and rehearsal halls on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax Campus.

In a truly special start to the evening, students from the School of Theater were able to join the event’s headliner, Kristin Chenoweth, for her soundcheck in the Concert Hall of the Center for the Arts, prior to their own performances in the evening’s showcases. The Tony and Emmy Award winner welcomed them with open arms, remarking “These are my people! I’m your people and you're my people, and I'm so excited to have you here tonight!”

Students from the School of Theater perform selections from the upcoming production of Head Over Heels at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

During the evening’s showcases, guests flowed in and out of three buildings on the Fairfax Campus: the de Laski Performing Arts Building, Harris Theatre, and Horizon Hall. Inside de Laski, students from the School of Theater dazzled the crowd with their powerful voices and clever choreography as they previewed songs from their upcoming production of Head Over Heels. Just down the hall, the emerging professionals of �鶹��Ƶ’s School of Dance performed to packed houses, and graciously responded to questions from the audience after each performance. The Dewberry School of Music didn’t stop the beat all night, with talented instrumental and vocal musicians presenting piano, jazz, and opera selections during the two and half hours of student showcases.

Students from the School of Dance perform during a showcase at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

As guests made their way out of deLaski across the Johnson Center Plaza, they were enticed into Harris Theater by the resonant sounds of �鶹��Ƶ’s Symphony Orchestra. Alternating their time on the Harris stage, students from the Film and Video Studies program screened their films, offering guests a sneak peek into the revolutionary stories crafted at �鶹��Ƶ. More music flowed from the amphitheater space between Harris and Horizon Hall, where the Spirit Drumline, the 8^th Green Machine Regiment Band, and the Green Machine Pep Band kept toes tapping as guests ambled along the walkway into Horizon Hall.

The �鶹��Ƶ Symphony Orchestra performs on the stage of Harris Theatre during ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

Members of the Green Machine Pep Band perform outside Horizon Hall at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

Inside Horizon Hall, staff and students from �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy (MCAA) spoke about the impact of having such incredible arts programs available in our community from such a young age, and performed vocal and instrumental music for the assembled crowd. Offering a hands-on exploration of their disciplines, the Film and Video Studies program and the Computer Game Design program created mini studios inside the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX), where guests explored a change of scenery via the green screen demonstrations and virtual reality headsets. Also in the MIX, the School of Art gave guests a chance to play with printing, personalizing a postcard they could take with them as a memento of their experience, while elsewhere in the room, students chatted with guests while demonstrating the capabilities of the 3D printers.

Faculty from the School of Art walk guests through the interactive printing station in the �鶹��Ƶ Innovation Exchange (MIX) at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

A guest poses in front of the green screen during a demonstration by the Film and Video Studies program at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

A student from �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy performs a song on her violin at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

Guests test out the virtual reality demonstration with the Computer Game Design program at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

After the showcases, everyone flowed down the hill and into the Center for the Arts Concert Hall for the live auction, followed by the headlining concert. Guests were welcomed to the auction by �鶹��Ƶ President Gregory Washington, who remarked, “Tonight, we celebrate the excellence of �鶹��Ƶ’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and the vibrant cultural offerings it provides to our campuses and wider community. The arts are one of the front doors to the university and attract visitors of all ages and backgrounds. We’re pleased that so many of you have found your way through our door to become involved with CVPA and �鶹��Ƶ. Your generosity supports student scholarships and helps ensure that talent meets opportunity, and that budding artists can develop their gifts and pursue their passions here at �鶹��Ƶ.”

President Gregory Washington Addresses the Crowd at ARTS! By George 2022. (Photo by Cable Risdon Photography)

The auction items and the Fund-A-Student opportunities, which directly contribute to the scholarships available to CVPA students, raised more than $23,000. Taking the stage after the auction, Rick Davis expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the full house, saying “As I’m sitting here, knowing the students that these contributions support, many of them personally, many of them in my classes, knowing what it does for our College’s ability to grant the opportunity of a first-rate education, not just in the arts, but a first-rate university education, knowing what we have accomplished here tonight in just these 27 minutes or so, is personally very, very, very gratifying, so thank you all so very, very much. . . Some of you know me well and you’ll know that when I say I’m almost speechless, you’ll know that that is a significant accomplishment!”

Capping off the evening, Kristin Chenoweth performed a concert from her album For The Girls, a tribute to prominent female singers throughout history. After the show, Chenoweth and Davis ended the night with a champagne toast on stage.

The annual philanthropic event raised approximately $250,000 for student scholarships in dance, theater, game design, film, music, visual arts, and arts management, as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts.

See more images from the event by clicking here!

Topics

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at �鶹��Ƶ and Raises Scholarship Funds

Zoe Harr — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:06:54 +0000

ARTS by George! Showcases the Arts at �鶹��Ƶ and Raises Scholarship Funds Zoe Harr Tue, 09/06/2022 - 13:06

In This Story

Rick Davis

ARTS by George!

Kristin Chenoweth in Concert

“An evening like no other,” ARTS by George! makes its in-person return on September 24. The philanthropic event, headlined by Emmy^® and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, raises support for student scholarships in visual arts, dance, music, theater, game design, film, arts management, as well as for the �鶹��Ƶ Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performance at �鶹��Ƶ season at the Center for the Arts. Since its creation in 2006, ARTS by George! has raised more than $2 million for the arts at �鶹��Ƶ.

“More than any single performance or exhibition or screening could ever do, ARTS by George! offers a window into the life and work – the very heart – of this great College of Visual and Performing Arts,” notes Rick Davis, Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). “In fact, it’s kind of a stained-glass window, composed of many colors and shapes and designs representing the many programs we offer, and it casts a beautiful light on the interplay of students, faculty, professional guest artists, and the communities that we all serve.”

School of Music students perform at a previous ARTS by George! event.

ARTS by George! begins by bringing hundreds of CVPA students and faculty together to collaborate in a series of behind-the-scenes showcase performances and exhibits, ranging from musical cabarets to virtual reality demos. From the School of Music, a taste from the many offerings including jazz, piano, symphony orchestra, opera, as well as special performances by The Green Machine. Introducing its upcoming production of the laugh-out-loud love story Head Over Heels, �鶹��Ƶ School of Theater will perform highlights from the musical featuring music of the Go-Go’s and more! Additionally, guests will be invited to performances from the School of Dance, student film screenings from the School of Film, and Computer Game Design demonstrations. Programming begins at 5 p.m., presented across 10 open studios and rehearsal halls on �鶹��Ƶ’s Fairfax campus, which will also have sumptuous beverage and cuisine stations offered throughout.

Co-chairs of ARTS by George! Anne Bolger and Steven Golsch emphasize the importance of the event, stating, “This benefit raises important scholarship funds to help our talented students and community arts partners and share their art and inspire the world. We are proud to support these programs and students as they fulfill their lifelong dreams.”

Kristin Chenoweth headlines the event on September 24.

After the thrilling showcase festivities, guests will transition to the Center for the Arts for a Live Fund-A-Student Auction, leading up to the performance by Kristin Chenoweth. In this 8:30 p.m. concert, Chenoweth will sing music from her album For The Girls, a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers throughout history. The album includes Chenoweth’s personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton, and more. To learn more about Kristin Chenoweth, please visit her website. The evening culminates with a special champagne toast onstage with ARTS by George! ticketholders and Ms. Chenoweth.

This year, the winner of the Arts by George! 2023 scholarship is Film and Video Studies student, Tiffany Vu. Past recipients include Erblin Nushi (Film and Video Studies, 2018), Mariah Rogers (The Green Machine, 2020), and Alana Lyons (�鶹��Ƶ School of Theater, 2021). Student scholarships allow for the College of Visual and Performing Arts’ (CVPA) students to explore creative projects while cultivating �鶹��Ƶ’s enriching arts education and first-class performances.

Rick Davis encapsulates �鶹��Ƶ and its community’s excitement, stating, “We’re delighted to be back to our full expression of CVPA’s contribution to the dynamo that is �鶹��Ƶ.”

To learn more about Arts by George!, visit the website.