The 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and the Arts High Foundation was an unforgettable and irreplaceable evening of entertainment and tributes, which included a live performance by Barry Manilow.
On Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the Music Center’s Ahmanson Theatre, a Kennedy-Center-Honors-style performance event honoring Arts Education Champions Dr. Edward Kantor, Ginny Mancini, Barry Manilow and Flora L. Thornton was witnessed by over 2,000 guests—parents, alumni, students, along with many of Los Angeles’ philanthropic, business and arts-community elite.
The Celebration marked the last major public appearance by Mrs. Thornton, who passed away on May 7*. A performance event of unparalleled proportions, the evening featured superstar entertainment by Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Dave Koz, Monica Mancini, the one-and-only Bob Newhart and opera legend Marilyn Horne. Ms. Horne came out of retirement to sing a special a capella version of “Simple Gifts” as a tribute to her dear friend, Flora Thornton—after which, there wasn’t a dry-eye in the house as the audience rose to their collective feet to express their appreciation to Ms. Horne and Mrs. Thornton with a long standing ovation. Special celebrity presenters Frank Gehry, alumnus Josh Groban and John Williams added more luster to an already amazing line-up of stars and honorees. To make a stellar evening even more unique, special video presentations were made for the honorees by Paul Anka, Deborah Borda, Cher, Placido Domingo, Michael Feinstein, Janet Jackson, Quincy Jones, Don Rickles, Elizabeth Troy, Jerry Weintraub and others. And to bring it all home, the audience and honorees were thoroughly entertained by up-and-coming LACHSA alumni performers Dominic Domingo and Julie Adams and student ensembles featuring an show-stopping opening song-and-dance number, the award-winning LACHSA Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the Musical Theatre Ensemble in an unforgettable performance of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Jellicle Cats.”
The 25th Anniversary Celebration raised nearly $525,000 to support the Foundation in efforts to continue funding LACHSA’s quality arts programs!
For more about this event, please see photos and information about the special honorees and honorary event committee.
*Flora L. Thornton, special friend and major donor of LACHSA’s Full Circle Opera Project and Flora L. Thornton Scholarship in Opera, passed on May 7th, 2010 at the age of 96. The Arts High Foundation is deeply delighted to have honored her for her milestones in arts and philanthropy and for being a true Champion of Arts Education.
25th Anniversary Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors, $100,000+
Anonymous
Arts High Foundation
Major Sponsors, $50,000+
Anonymous
Silver Anniversary Sponsors, $25,000+
Anonymous
Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
Event Sponsors, $10,000+
Howard & Roberta Ahmanson
Anonymous (4)
David Bohnett & Tom Gregory
The Walt Disney Company
Sheldon Disrud
The U.S. Estorick Foundation
Walter Lantz Foundation
Jess Ravich
Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.