Handel and Haydn Society to Host Society Ball, 3/22

On Saturday evening, March 22, supporters of the Handel and Haydn Society and music education will come together to honor two important leaders in the field of music scholarship. The event will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Vocal Apprenticeship Program and raise funds and awareness for H&H's education and artistic initiatives.

The annual black-tie gala, which takes place this year at the Mandarin Oriental, Boston, will be co-chaired by longtime H&H supporters, Jane Manilych and Cecily Tyler. 99.5 WCRB's Laura Carlo will return as Master of Ceremonies for a fun-filled evening of cocktails, dinner, dancing, musical entertainment by H&H musicians and youth singers, and live and silent auctions. Marie Keep of Skinner, Inc. returns as auctioneer.

Each year, The Society Ball celebrates the work of special honorees. H&H's 2014 gala honorees have made significant contributions to the music field. Thomas Forrest Kelly, the Morton B. Knafel Professor of Music at Harvard University, is an international figure in the field of early music, particularly medieval chant. He has been an asset to H&H over the years, first as an advisor and most recently with the preparation of a commemorative book celebrating H&H's upcoming 200th anniversary. Like Dr. Kelly, Sandra Nicolucci has been long involved in music education in Massachusetts. In addition to teaching at Boston University, she has enjoyed a long career as a music educator and performing arts curriculum director in the Newton, Brookline, and Wellesley public schools, and has helped H&H continue to build its education programs. Among her other accomplishments, Dr. Nicolucci was involved in developing the first arts curriculum framework for the state of Massachusetts, and she is currently active in the creation of new national standards for arts education.

The Society Ball will also salute the Vocal Apprenticeship Program (VAP), one of the crown jewels in H&H's Karen S. and George D. Levy Education Program. This year marks the 20th anniversary of VAP, which serves students in grades 3-12. VAP comprises five youth choral ensembles, music instruction, and a pre-professional vocal training program for high school students. Several of this year's VAP ensembles will perform at The Society Ball.

"This year's gala represents a major milestone for us at the Handel and Haydn Society," says H&H Executive Director and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard. "Just as we are about to embark on our 200th anniversary, we celebrate individuals who have been enormously beneficial to our organization's success and longevity, the growth and continued impact of our Vocal Apprenticeship Program, and to the health of music in our state."

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