Four St. Louisans have been named to the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year list. Congrats to Allan Connolly of Aclara, Dan Geraty of Clearent, Donald Welge of Gilster-Mary Lee Corp. and Bruce Holland of Holland Construction.
If you happened to be at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between June 29 and July 9, you might have seen some talented St. Louis kids there (pictured at top). Founder Jessica Hentoff and her troupe, the St. Louis Arches, were invited to perform during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Headquartered on the third floor of the City Museum, the Arches is a creative way to use circus arts to cultivate personal growth and social change.
Congratulations to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for receiving a $90,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the largest amount the NEA has earmarked for an American opera company this grant cycle. The award will fund OTSL’s 2018 production of An American Soldier, a two-act piece that explores patriotism and belonging through the story of a Chinese-American private in Afghanistan. The opera is by composer Huang Ruo and Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang.
The Arts and Education Council has announced its 2018 honorees, the individuals, businesses and organizations singled out for outstanding contributions to the local culture scene. The kudos go to: Denny Reagan of The Muny (pictured), music educator Johnetta Haley, Gene Dobbs Bradford, Art on the Square, World Wide Technology, Saint Louis Fashion Fund and Keith Tyrone Williams. Bravo!
Heather Woofter has been named to lead the architecture programs at Washington University. Co-director of the St. Louis-based firm Axi-Ome (whose projects include Grand Center’s Art Walk), she has chaired the W.U. graduate architecture program since 2010. Woofter earned an undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech and a master’s from Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Photo at top: George Koertel