2009 St. Louis Arts Awards
January 26, 2009


With her soulful rendition of “Over the Rainbow,” Lifetime Award recipient Jeanne Trevor gave voice to what the more than 500 people gathered at the Chase Park Plaza were thinking: the 2009 St. Louis Arts Awards held on January 26 turned out to be a dreamy, over-the-rainbow event. Not
even the snow and sleet that began just as the evening was getting started could dampen the celebratory, festive moodinside the Khorassan Ballroom.

In addition to Trevor, the Arts and Education Council honored Laurance L. and Virginia Browning, Jr., Cinema St. Louis, Robert Powell, Sr. Patricia Giljum, CSJ and Jessica Hentoff for their contributions to the local arts scene.


Here are some of the photo highlights of what everyone
in attendance agreed was one terrific event.

Blacktie St. Louis

St. Louis Magazine

________________________________________

The Arts and Education Council is proud to announce the 2009 St. Louis Arts Awards honorees.  Presented since 1992, the St. Louis Arts Awards honors groups and individuals who help preserve a legacy of artistic excellence and enrich St. Louis’ cultural community.

The 18th annual celebration will be held on Monday, January 26, 2009 in the Khorassan Room of the Chase Park Plaza beginning with cocktails at 6:00 pm, followed by dinner at 7:00 pm. The event is chaired by William A. Donius, Chairman of Pulaski Bank, who is joined by co-chairs James Castellano, Chairman of RubinBrown LLP, and his wife, Karen.


Tickets and Sponsoships

For sponsorships opportunities and ticket information, please contact the Arts and Education Council at 314.289.4003 or email Karen Klaus. You may also download and print the RSVP card here.


Lifetime Achievement in the Arts - Jeanne Trevor

  • Known to many as St. Louis’ queen of jazz, veteran vocalist Jeanne Trevor has been a fixture of the St. Louis jazz scene since the early 1960’s. In addition to performances at The Black Rep, Powell Symphony Hall, and the Fox Theatre, this Grammy-award-winning musician has graced stages worldwide.

Excellence in Philanthropy - Laurance L. and Virginia Browning, Jr.

  • Laurance L. Browning Jr., formerly Vice Chairman of Emerson Electric Company, was instrumental in the creation of the Emerson Charitable Trust in the 1970s. He and his wife Virginia are leading supporters of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Repertory Theatre, the Saint Louis Symphony, Grand Center, Sheldon Arts Foundation, Webster University, and the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Excellence in the Arts - Cinema St. Louis

  • Established in 1992, Cinema St. Louis has always championed film as an art form. The organization’s premier event, the St. Louis International Film Festival, is now a St. Louis tradition eagerly anticipated by film audiences and is one of the largest and highest profile international films festivals in the Midwest. Cinema St. Louis also produces the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase and CinemaSpoke screenwriting competition.

Excellence in the Arts – Robert Powell

  • Robert Powell has served the St. Louis arts community for more than 20 years as a sculptor, educator, and entrepreneur.  In 1989 he founded the Portfolio Gallery and Educational Center which has become a haven for African American artistic expression in the St. Louis area. The gallery provides opportunities for local artists and does extensive community outreach with various groups including the St. Louis Public Schools and the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Art Educator of the Year - Sr. Patricia Giljum, CSJ

  • Throughout Sr. Patricia Giljum’s 30+ year tenure with the St. Louis Archdiocese, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of students and the arts. At the Archdiocese, she oversaw the music and arts programs for 122 elementary and 30 secondary schools. Sr. Giljum is also very active in the community working with such groups as the E. Desmond Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative, the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, and the Community Music School of Webster University.

Arts Innovator – Jessica Hentoff

  • Jessica Hentoff has been involved with circus arts since 1973 as a performer and instructor. She was a founding member of both the Big Apple Circus in New York and Circus Flora in St. Louis. In 1989 Hentoff started a group which has blossomed into the St. Louis Arches, a youth troupe performing partner acrobatics.  Hentoff also founded Circus Day Foundation in 2001, of which she currently serves as Artistic and Executive Director.

Principal Sponsors
The Boeing Company
Edward Jones

Award Sponsors
Centene Corporation, Emerson, The Monsanto Fund

Cocktail Reception Sponsor
Pulaski Bank

Major Benefactors
Ameren Corporation, Brown Shoe, Fifth Third Bank, Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation, Macy’s Midwest, Switch

Benefactors
BJC HealthCare, Stephen F. and Camilla Brauer, Bryan Cave LLP, HBE Corporation, Laclede Gas Company, Lumière Place, RubinBrown LLP, St. Louis Magazine, Washington University in St. Louis, Webster University

Honorees Luncheon Sponsor
Regional Business Council

Table Sponsors
Arch Coal, Archdiocese Catholic Schools, Community Music School of Webster University, HOK, KFUO-FM Classic99, KWMU 90.7, Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, Major Brands, Sanford and Priscilla McDonnell, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Rams, Sheldon Arts Foundation, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Thompson Coburn LLP, University of Missouri – St. Louis

Patrons
Walter and Nancy Galvin. McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc.

Sponsors as of December 10, 2008



2008 St. Louis Arts Awards Honorees

Lifetime Achievement in the Arts – Gyo Obata
Excellence in Philanthropy – Mary Ann Lee
Excellence in the Arts – Ivor David Balding
Excellence in the Arts – Gerald Early
Excellence in the Arts – Stages St. Louis
Corporate Support of the Arts – Thompson Coburn LLP
Art Educator of the Year – Linda Packard



     St. Louis Arts Awards Past Recipients

 

 

 

Excellence in the Arts

 

Lifetime Achievement in the Arts

Leonard Slatkin, Robert McFerrin and
Webster University

1992

Evelyn Newman

Colin Graham, Steven Woolf and Katherine Dunham

1993

Joseph Pulitzer

Arthur Osver,  Henry Townsend, Mona Van Duyn and Jarvis Thurston

1994

Katherine G. Wells and Ben H. Wells

John Kendall, Robert Orchard and
Laumeier Sculpture Park

1995

Margaret Grigg

Heikki Seppa, William Gass and Josephine Throdahl

1996

Dr. Leigh Gerdine

Ethelyn Sparfield and Jane Sauer

1997

Margie Wolcott May

Marita Woodruff, Annelise Mertz and
Metro Theater Company

1998

Judith Aronson, Ph.D. and Adam Aronson

Alexandra Zaharias, Patricia and Fredrick McKissack
and The Sheldon Arts Foundation

1999

Norman Goldberg

Charles MacKay, Ernest Trova and
Center of Creative Arts (COCA)

2000

Joanne Kohn

Dance St. Louis

2001

Charles Guenther, Ruth Slencynska and Ron Himes

David Halen, Patrick Schuchard and
The Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis
(The MUNY)

2002

Emily Rauh Pulitzer

Johnnie Johnson, Peter Sargent and Agnes Wilcox

2003

Alice Gerdine

Young Audiences of St. Louis and Willie Akins

2004

Peter Bunce, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg

Reggie Thomas, Craft Alliance and
Community Music School of Webster University

2005

Priscilla McDonnell

Christine Brewer, Herb Drury and Jazz St. Louis

2006

Joneal Joplin and Douglas Turpin

Susan Slaughter, Carolbeth True,
Saint Louis Art Museum

2007

Mary Strauss

 

 

Excellence in Philanthropy

 

Corporate Support for the Arts

1997

E. Desmond Lee

1992

Southwestern Bell Corporation

2002

Lucy & Stanley Lopata

1993

Union Electric Company

2003

Whitaker Foundation

1994

The May Department Stores Company

2004

Marilyn & Sam Fox

1995

Emerson

2005

Alison and John Ferring

1996

Mark Twain Banks

2006

Anabeth and John Weil

1997

Monsanto Fund

2007

Sally S. Levy

 

Art Educator of the Year
         Celeste Banta, McKelvey Elementary, Parkway

 

1998

 

Edward Jones

Kemara Skinner, Soldan Intl. Studies H.S., St. Louis

1999

Commerce Bank &  William T. Kemper Fnd.

Suzanne Bushey, Ames Visual &  Perf. Elementary

2000

UMB Bank, N.A.

Gary Lang, Seckman High School, Fox

2001

Maritz Inc.

Fredrick J. Nelson, MICDS

2002

Bank of America

Sr. Gail Buckman, St. Gabriel the Archangel

2003

The Boeing Company

Mary Eichenberger, Ferguson-Florissant

2004

Anheuser-Busch Companies

Jan Davis, PhD., Ferguson-Florissant

2005

Centene Corporation

Joseph Schulte, SLUH

2006

Sachs Properties

Sr. Gabriel Mary Hoare, SL, Nerinx Hall High School

2007

Brown Shoe

 

Young Artist of the Year

2002

Melanie Hadley