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Our Annual Awards Event is always a highlight of the Club’s season, and this year was a perfect demonstration of just why that is. Three extraordinary young artists shared their talents with us and provided in-person evidence of why our Club’s mission is so important.

Visual Arts Awards chair Paige Peter presented two artists and their works: Ava Weisberg, whose deeply felt connection with the City of Los Angeles is evident is much of her work; and Claire Richards, a mixed-media artist exploring the distortion of language, ownership, and identity in her work Pirate Babble.

Our Performing Arts Award winner, Keilani Bolhuis, now holds two of this year’s honors since she was also named our scholarship winner in February. She delighted the attendees of our event with a diverse program that proved why she deserves both honors: accompanied by two different pianists in a program that ranged from Bach to a song popularized by many great 20^th century vocalists (including Billie Holiday), Keilani proved that she is a star on the ascendant.

The evening also included a well-deserved recognition of Mary Cronin, our previous chair of Performing Arts Programs, for her years of dedicated service in arranging for the extraordinary musical performances that have so distinguished our Club’s gatherings over recent years. A wholehearted Brava to Mary!

Our February dinner meeting turned into a vital celebration of artistry in its many forms,despite discouraging weather forecasts earlier in the day.

The evening began as members and guests entered the Athenaeum to be greeted by the striking works of furniture craftsman, designer, and all-around artist Christopher Grant Ward. Ward’s impressive and lyrically designed Idyllia doors capture the daily passage of time from sunrise to moonrise, reflecting, like so much of Ward’s work, how he takes his inspiration from nature. Many of the pieces exhibited were part of Ward’s design room exhibit at the 2023 Pasadena Showcase House.

The musical performances of the evening were a celebration of young performing artists in our Southern California community. First, Keilani Bolhuis, our 2024 recipient of the Roman Andrew Borek Endowed Scholarship, performed and captured the audience with her grace and maturity at the violin. Then the audience was treated to an enthusiastic performance of several traditional and contemporary numbers by the fourteen members of the Mariachi Diamante de Downey. Such youthful energy was a great way to start our 2024 programs!

Club members and guests ushered in the holiday season in fine style at our December meeting, surrounded by the always-impressive Christmas decorations at The Athenaeum. As usual, a highlight of the evening was the opportunity to catch up with old friends and colleagues and enjoy the chance to meet some new ones, including the many guests who joined us.

The theme of the night was beautifully captured in a well-received performance by The La Cañada High School Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Jeff Brookey. It was a lovely way to celebrate this holiday time of year as we prepare to bid farewell to a memorable year and put out the welcome mat for 2024. Happy New Year!

Our 110th Season got off to a sparkling start with our first dinner meeting at the Athenaeum. The evening started with the exhibit of varied works by our own Susanne Belcher, and the creativity on display was something to behold. The presentation of the art was beautifully arranged, as always, by chair Jo Butcher.

The evening continued with the first presentation of new Performing Arts Chair James Stauffer, a delightful homage to the music of Cole Porter from pianist Dr. James Lent and baritone Ross Chitwood. Their polished and enthusiastic performance of some great American standards was a treat for the audience..

Of course, a highlight of the evening was the opportunity to meet and greet Club members new and longstanding in the beautiful surroundings of the Athenaeum. We’re already looking forward to this year’s Christmas decorations!