By Bill Robinson
Senior News Writer
RICHMOND —
The Richmond Area Arts Council will stage its 20th annual Arts Gala fundraiser on Friday evening, Sept. 10, at the home of Ralph and Marilyn Hacker on Barnes Mill Road.
Dubbed the “Fall Arts Roundup,” a highlight of the evening will be a show by the locally based cowboy band, Cool Waters.
“The Cool Waters performance will be a dinner show by some very talented local musicians, with singing, dialog and comedy,” said Deborah Kidd Stegner, RAAC executive director. “It won’t be background music.”
Dress is casual, and in keeping with the theme, guests should feel free to come in western wear, she said.
The show will begin and dinner, catered by Stop and Go Barbecue of Richmond, will be served at 6:30 p.m.
The menu will include pork, chicken and beef barbecue as well as baked beans, slaw, blackberry cobbler and other barbecue and picnic favorites.
The gala will begin at 5 p.m., with appetizers and drinks served as guests arrive.
A “round up” local artists will be on hand to talk about work they will have on display and for sale. A silent auction of art works and other items will be conducted.“Ralph and Marilyn have very graciously offered us their home as the venue for RAAC’s 20th gala, and we are expecting a great turnout,” Stegner said.
Hacker, a Richmond native, for many years provided color commentary for University of Kentucky football and basketball broadcasts and then succeeded Cawood Ledford as the broadcast anchor.
Gala tickets are $50 each and may be reserved by calling 624-4242 or by mailing the reservation form found at www.artsinrichmond.org.
In addition to celebrating a RAAC milestone, Stegner said the gala also signals a new vitality for the community arts organization.
“With a strong sense of support from the community and a renewed spirit in this organization, RAAC will continue to play a vibrant, active role in Madison County,” she said. “Our area is full of wonderful individuals and businesses who realize the important role the arts in promoting a healthy economy as well as enriching the cultural life of the community.”
In addition to the resumption of its Derby Brunch this year, continuation of its expanded after-school arts classes in cooperation with the Madison County School District, beginning the third year of the Madison Community Singers and other activities, RAAC is launching a youth chorus this year.
To be directed by Stegner, who also directs a youth chorus in Mt. Sterling, the Madison Youth Chorus is open to students in third through eighth grades. Students will learn correct vocal techniques, stage etiquette, solfege, sight reading and music theory. Different styles of music will be learned and performed, she said.Youth chorus auditions will be conducted on Monday, Sept. 13, in the RAAC Performance Hall. Auditions may be scheduled by calling 624-4242 or by filling out the form found at www.artsinrichmond.org.
Chorus tuition is $45 per student, but a limited number of scholarships are available.
Rehearsals will be conducted from 5 to 6:30 p.m. each Monday.
The Madison Community Singers, with members ranging in age from 18 to 90, will resume rehearsals at 7 p.m. Sept. 13 in the RAAC Performance Hall.
The after-school Fun with the Arts program is off to a good start with about 130 students in classes at While Hall and Glenn Marshall Elementary schools and B. Michael Caudill Middle School in Richmond and Shannon Johnson Elementary in Berea.
Some classes still have places available, and the Madison County School District provides transportation to the schools for its students.
For more details or to enroll a child in fun with the arts, visit www.artsinrichmond.org or call 624-4242.
