AAUW Honors Performing Arts Troupes, Art Educators

by SCOTT McCAFFREY, Staff Writer

(Created: Sunday, May 18, 2008 10:32 AM EDT)

AAUW award winners include (seated) Madeline La Salle and (back) Raymond Gniewek, Svetlana Nikonova, Barbara Walthall, Jeffrey Benson and Kathi Gollwitzer. (Photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Odds are that, if you don't know Ray Gniewek, you're familiar with his work.

An Arlington residents and recently retired senior editor at USA Today, Gniewek for much of the past decade has volunteered his time to take photographs for local theater troupes, both for publication with reviews and to create an archive for the future.

“The hardest part for me is closing the show,” Kathi Gollwitzer, artistic director at Firebelly Productions, said of Gniewek's work. “With your pictures, it never really closes.”

Gniewek was honored with the Arlington branch of the American Association of University Women's Notable Achievement in the Arts award during a luncheon held May 17 at Army Navy Country Club. It was among a number of awards in support of the arts made at the AAUW spring luncheon.

Gniewek's work “is a labor of love that has increased our awareness and appreciation of Arlington's vibrant arts scene,” AAUW's Vivian Kallen said.

Gniewek said he prefers to spend long periods of time with the actors, so they get comfortable with his presence. That's when they are “in the moment,” he said.

Along with Gniewek, the following individuals and organizations received awards:

* The Washington Balalaika Society, founded in 1988 in Arlington, was honored with the Elizabeth Campbell Award for Outstanding Community Arts Group.

Audiences “come away from every concert with lots of joy and excitement in your heart,” said Connie McAdam as she presented artistic director and conductor Svetlana Nikonova with the award.

Nikonova was recruited from Russia to become artistic director in 2003, and has seen the folk ensemble grow to 65 members.

“Their enthusiasm and spirit amazed and impressed me from the first rehearsal,” she said.

* Firebelly Productions was honored with the Elizabeth Campbell Award for the Advancement of the Arts in Arlington. Gollwitzer accepted the award along with producer Barbara Walthall.

“Their passion is what drives the arts,” Gollwitzer said of the young actors the troupe helps mentor. “There is nothing like watching a young actor that very first time their character comes alive.”

The same can be said for young people in the audience, many of whom may not have been to live theater before.

Gollwitzer detailed the time a mother came up to her after her 12-year-old son saw a Firebelly show. “You changed his life - he will never be the same,” the mother said.

* Madeline La Salle was honored as Arlington Educator of the Year for her work at Gunston Middle School and other local schools.

La Salle was cofounder of Latinas Leading Tomorrow, a training program for girls “in need of direction and mentoring,” she said.

The program has now expanded to several middle and high schools of the county, and could be in place at all such schools by the end of the next school year.

La Salle said her mother came to the U.S. from Puerto Rico, and every day drilled into her head the need to go to college.

“Her vision became my goal,” she said.

* Jeffrey Benson, the choral director and chairman of the fine arts department at the H-B Woodlawn Program, was honored with the new Arlington Branch Award for Excellence in the Arts in Arlington Public Schools.

When Benson arrived at Woodlawn, only about 30 students participated in choral programs. That number has now grown to 260.

“I owe most of my success . . . to being in such a supportive community,” he said. “It's a tremendous place to work.”

Benson is departing the school system to study for a doctorate in choral conducting in Florida this fall, but says he hopes to return.

Marjorie Hobart, co-president of the Arlington AAUW, said the awards program, now in its 11th year, celebrates the depth and breadth of the artistic talent throughout the county.

“We are proud when we see these groups perform in our community, and we want to give them our support, both monetarily, and with all our attendance and enthusiasm,” she said.

http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2008/05/19/arlington/news/nws84.txt