Elmhurst arts group planning fundraising gala
The Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts will honor Molly Lindberg, founder and artistic director of Spirito! Singers, at its fourth annual Spotlight Gala next month to celebrate the arts.
The gala will run from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave. Tickets for the cocktail-style event are $150 and available at www.ecpa-elmhurst.org.
The gala benefits ECPA, a not-for-profit group dedicated to the creation of a state-of-the-art venue for theater, dance and comedy in the Elmhurst City Centre.
"This year's gala could not be happening at a better time," ECPA Board Chairman Jeff Budgell said.
In September, the Elmhurst-First LLC announced its purchase of the 109-119 First Street property, securing the location for the Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts and advancing the overall plan to establish a performing arts center in downtown Elmhurst.
"There is tremendous passion in Elmhurst and the surrounding area for the arts," Budgell said. "ECPA is committed to elevating the arts in the Western suburbs by bringing a state-of-the-art performing arts center to the heart of Elmhurst."
Lindberg, meanwhile, founded Spirito! in spring 2008 with an ensemble of 50 high school treble singers. Her passion for choral music and her love for working with singers of all ages has expanded Spirito! into five rehearsal ensembles and more than 240 singers each year.
"ECPA is a grass-roots initiative supported by people who believe in the value of the arts and accessibility for all," she said. "Having built Spirito! from the ground up, I recognize the magnitude of the effort ECPA has undertaken and applaud them for their dedication to make a performing arts center a reality."
A unique feature of this year's gala is Art in Bloom. Ten floral designers from Phillip's Flowers locations will compete with their floral interpretations of art pieces in the Elmhurst Art Museum galleries, which will be on display for viewing (and voting).
"We are thrilled with the idea of flower pairing bouquets with the beautiful art pieces at the Elmhurst Art Museum. It allows our designers creative freedom to prepare bouquets around a specific painting to showcase their talents," said Don Phillip, one of the owners of Phillip's Flowers and Gifts.