BOX OFFICE 202.785.9727
Thank you to all who joined us for our fabulous virtual event on Wednesday, May 19 in support of the remarkable education and gospel music programs of Washington Performing Arts.
Whether you watched Roots & Wings online, made a donation, donated to or won an item in the silent auction, or spread the news about the event within your own community, we are deeply moved by the support of the Washington Performing Arts family of friends, supporters, and colleagues around D.C. and far beyond. We are so glad you celebrated with us—and helped us to honor James J. Sandman, an arts education champion, advocate for equity and justice, and beloved Washington Performing Arts Board member for nearly two decades.
The great German literary master Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.” At Washington Performing Arts, we agree and embrace this charge.
Education and engagement are at the heart of why Washington Performing Arts was founded: to celebrate and spark curiosity, collaboration, and creativity, and to be a home for all members of our community where they can experience the arts. For more than 50 years, Washington Performing Arts has produced educational programs throughout the community in partnership with DC Public Schools and dozens of embassies, and via our gospel music programs for people of all ages. Washington Performing Arts annually produces more than 800 education and community engagement events that serve over 50,000 participants across the greater D.C. area.
We need your support to power these programs—you can still donate to our “Make Arts Education Happen” drive until May 31!
ABOUT ROOTS & WINGS
We are very grateful to the dynamic artists who took part in our show on May 19—made up of artists, teaching artists, students, and staff that bring our programs to life every day!
- Pianist Jenny Lin, who was featured on our Family Art Moments series this spring
- Dreamers’ Circus, last heard at Sixth & I and via our Embassy Adoption Program with the Embassy of Denmark
- Jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker, last heard onstage at Sixth & I in concert with the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir
And:
- Washington Performing Arts’s Teaching Artists
- Our 2020 Joseph and Goldie Feder Memorial String Competition winners, and
- The renowned Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir with Artistic Director Michele Fowlin and Music Director Anthony “Tony” Walker
James J. Sandman has served on the Washington Performing Arts Board of Directors for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles: Chair of Education Programs, Chair of the Audit Committee, Vice Chair of the Board, and always as a principled advocate, generous partner, and loyal friend. Indeed, arts education and equitable access to our programs have been paramount during Jim’s service—he brings our founding motto “Everybody in, nobody out” to life through a shining example.
Currently Distinguished Lecturer and Senior Consultant to the Future of the Profession Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Jim has had a long and varied career in private practice with a leading law firm, in government service, and as a public interest lawyer. Jim has offered Washington Performing Arts a unique perspective, not only as an arts lover, but also as a past General Counsel of the District of Columbia Public Schools and a current member of the District of Columbia Public Charter School Board. His championing of justice and equity has had national impact and reach—Jim is President Emeritus of the Legal Services Corporation, the largest funder of civil legal aid in the United States. He practiced law for 30 years with the international, Washington-based law firm of Arnold & Porter and served as the firm’s Managing Partner for a decade, and he is a past President of the 110,000-member District of Columbia Bar.
An active member of nearly a dozen boards and commissions, his leadership within and service to our community is expansive and deeply impactful. Join us in honoring Jim and celebrating the programs that he has helped nurture for decades!
Special thanks to the members of our Board of Directors, Junior Board, and Women’s Committee who led the effort in support of our arts education and gospel music programs!
Event Co-Chairs
Trista L. P. Colbert
Kathryn Jones
Auction Co-Chairs
Grace Yinhsiu Lin
Elaine Rose
Committee
Debbie Driesman
Tom Gallagher
Cassidy Grunninger
Arleen Kessler
André O. Lewis
Glendonia McKinney
Alyssa O’Connor
W. Stephen Piper
Naboth van den Broek
Reginald Van Lee
Gladys Watkins
Carolyn Ross Wilson
Gary Yacoubian
and the Washington Performing Arts Women’s Committee
Washington Performing Arts is grateful to the members of its Board of Directors and all the sponsors that stepped forward with pre-event support to make Roots & Wings—and the 2020/21 season—thrive!
Blue Sky
Mr. Jeffrey Bauman and Ms. Linda Fienberg
Trista L. P. Colbert and Theodore Colbert
Betsy and Robert Feinberg
Mr. and Mrs. Brad Figel
Tom Gallagher and Barbara Myers
Thomas J. Kim and John F. Olson
Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mars, Incorporated
Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather
Mr. James J. Sandman and Ms. Elizabeth D. Mullin
Wings
Anonymous
Her Excellency Shaikha Aisha AlKhalifa, Spouse of the Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain
William Alsup and Sunny Jung Alsup
Rudy Burwell and Mona Mohib/Encompass Supply
The Dan Cameron Family Foundation
Michele G. Cober and Brandon Cober/Verizon Washington, DC
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Coulter
Ms. Kelly King Dibble/Northern Trust
Debbie Driesman and Frank Islam
Mr. and Mrs. Burton J. Fishman
Ms. Felecia Love Greer/Pepco, An Exelon Company
Mike and Luanne Gutermuth
Mr. and Mrs. Jay M. Hammer
Daniel Heider/The Heider Group at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Dr. J. Stephen and Mrs. Kathryn Jones
Ms. Janice J. Kim and Mr. Anthony L. Otten/Stillwater LLC
Mr. and Mrs. David Marventano/Fluor Corporation
Lynn Parseghian and Nat Cohen
W. Stephen and Diane E. Piper
Dr. Irene Roth and Dr. Vicken Poochikian
Gordon and Lisa Rush
Drs. Marc Schlosberg and Doreen Moreira and the Schlosberg Family
Ami Scott and Lucius Outlaw III
Arjun and Ami Shah
Peter Shields and Ace Werner/Wiley
Mr. Reginald Van Lee
Philip R. West and Barbara Yellen
Gary and Silvia Yacoubian and SVS Home Audio
Roots
Bill and Martha Dudley
Mr. Daniel L. Korengold and Ms. Martha Dippell/Ourisman Automotive of VA
Soar
The Albert Family
Arnold & Porter LLP
CHIME (Community Help in Music Education) and Dorothy Marschak
Washington Gas
Carole and Robert Winter
Shine
Mark Lowham, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Flourish
John and Sharon Cruden
Mrs. Rhona Wolfe Friedman and Mr. Don Friedman
Ellen Jakovic and David Lipson
The Honorable and Mrs. Jan Lodal
Carol and Douglas Melamed
Ms. Denise Rollins
Grow
Ed and Lorraine Adams
Ms. Gloria Allen
Mrs. Nancy G. Barnum
Dr. and Mrs. E. DeVaughn Belton
Jenny Bilfield and Joel Phillip Friedman
Ms. Francesca Britton
Carleene H. Dei
Lisa Dewey
Peter Edelman
Jannes Waples Gibson
Dr. and Mrs. Michael S. Gold
Linda and Bill Goldman
Paula Seigle Goldman
Cassidy Grunninger
Ms. Kaya Henderson
Michelle Hoffmann
Arleen and Edward Kessler
Dr. Arlene King-Berry
Ms. Albertina D. Lane
Ariel Levinson-Waldman
André Lewis and Racquel Jemison
Ms. Esther H. Lim and Mr. John C. Yang
Ms. Grace Yinhsiu Lin and Mr. Morris Chen
Ms. Leslie Luxemburg
Dr. Joseph May and Mr. Brian Pesin
Mr. and Mrs. Rufus W. McKinney
Ms. Cheryl C. McQueen
Dr. Dianne T. McRae
Mr. Camden Miller
Daniel and Betty Moone
Haley Morrisson
Paola Moya
Mrs. Paulette Nehama
Ms. Alyssa O’Connor
Elizabeth Racheva and Danail Rachev
Ms. DeVera Y. Redmond
Shebbie R. and William S. Rice, III
Eric Rigaud and Traci Slater-Rigaud
Elaine Rose
Dr. Deborah Sewell
Mr. Jonathon Sorge
Kerrien Suarez
Héctor J. Torres and Jay Haddock Ortiz
Dr. Brenda E. Vaughan
Drs. Anthony E. and Gladys M. Watkins
Ms. Raleigh Wheeler
Mrs. Carolyn Ross Wilson
Learn
Ms. Patricia N. Bonds
Ms. Claire Cherry
Ruth Reed Hodges
Karin Hong
Jason Kamras
Ms. Brenda A. Parker
Margarette S. Peterson
Sara Trautman-Yeğenoğlu and Ferit Yeğenoğlu
Meiyu Tsung and Curtis Chang
Special Thanks
Ridgewells Catering
RJ Whyte Event Production
Total Wine & More
Supporters as of May 19, 2021.
Photos Above:
Group 1 (L to R): Participants in Capital Arts Programs; D.C. Keys; D.C. Honor Ensembles; and Embassy Adoption Program, all partnerships with DC Public Schools
Group 2 (L to R): Jenny Lin; Dreamers’ Circus; Matthew Whitaker; and Children of the Gospel Choir
Group 3 (L to R): James (Jim) Sandman and wife Elizabeth (Beth) Mullin with Jenny Bilfield, Washington Performing Arts President & CEO; Jim Sandman presents a gift to then Ambassador of Mexico, Arturo Sarukhan, and his wife, Veronica Valencia Sarukhan, (who are both now Honorary Directors of WPA) in appreciation of their support of the Embassy Adoption Program; Jim Sandman hugs Kaya Henderson, then Chancellor of the D.C. Public Schools, at a Washington Performing Arts event; Jim and Beth, with son Joe Sandman and his husband Jonathan Beam, and daughter Liz Sandman, at a Washington Performing Arts Gala
