Story, photos by Barbara McCormick
BOCA RATON — A festive dinner party with musical entertainment opened the social season for members and friends of the National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) Boca Raton South Florida Chapter. The annual affair was once again hosted by Dorinda and Bob Spahr with daughter Jessica Paton.
The meeting conducted by NSAL President Judi Asselta highlighted the events planned for the coming year. Dates for major events included NSAL Membership Tea, February 16, 2012; and Chapter Career Awards Competition (Musical Theatre) Saturday, March 3, 2012.
The elegant Annual Red Rose Dinner Gala will honor the First Lady of Theatre, Jan McArt and NSAL Musical Theatre Competition and NSAL Scholarship winners on Thursday, April 12, 2012. All proceeds from NSAL events help make it possible to identify, encourage, assist and showcase young artists in art, dance, drama, literature, musical theatre, music and voice.
Guests, seated concert style around the grand piano, enjoyed a number of musical selections, beginning with a performance by Cuban-born flutist Fabian Alvarez, accompanied by jazz guitarist Matthew Asselta. Fabian was then accompanied by Polish pianist Agneiszka Sornek. Solo performances by pianist Sornek concluded the musical interlude. Fabian and Agneiszka are students at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music and Matthew is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music.
Dr. Jon Robertson, dean of the Lynn University Conservatory of Music praised the talented students and the outstanding Conservatory Artist-faculty.
He announced that the Conservatory of Music has full accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Music and is equally ranked with Julliard, Curtis, Eastman and the top Conservatory’s of the world. Lynn Conservatory was ranked by NASM as the most outstanding in Chamber Music. He thanked NSAL members for their continued support.
For information concerning the Musical Theatre Competition contact Director Shari Upbin at shariupbin@aol.com and www.arts-nsal.org for application forms.
For Membership contact Judi Asselta, NSAL President jjaselta@earthlink.net.
