2014 St. Louis Arts Awards
Presented since 1992, the St. Louis Arts Awards is the preeminent award ceremony honoring individuals who achieve a legacy of artistic excellence, and organizations and businesses that enrich St. Louis’ arts and cultural community. Proceeds benefit A&E’s annual campaign, which funds nearly 70 arts and arts education organizations throughout the 16-county, bi-state region. The presenting sponsor for the 2014 St. Louis Arts Awards is Emerson, which has supported the event for many years.
Honorees
Carol North and Nicholas Kryah, Metro Theater Company
After joining Metro Theater Company as a performer in 1977, Carol North became its artistic director in 1980. Under North’s tutelage, Metro has grown from an experimental troupe, originally called Metro Theater Circus, to an award-winning regional theater company that draws on visual arts, dance and music to create distinctive work geared toward young audiences. North has directed most of Metro’s acclaimed repertory works. Helping to cultivate and broaden Metro’s success is her husband, Nicholas Kryah, who also joined the company in 1977. Since then, he has served as Metro’s resident artist and technical director and has directed, designed or acted in every company production for the past 36 years. Both North and Kryah plan to retire from Metro Theater Company in 2014.
Thelma and David Steward
From just five people and 4,000 square feet of office space in 1990, the Stewards have built a $4 billion global company based in Maryland Heights. Today, World Wide Technology Inc. is one of the federal government’s largest suppliers of advanced technology solutions. Along with achieving financial success, the Stewards have been able to fulfill their passion to give generously to the arts as well as other causes that focus on family, children and education. They serve, or have served, on a plethora of local boards, including the St. Louis Symphony, St. Louis Science Center, Civic Progress of St. Louis, St. Louis Regional Chamber, the Sheldon, St. Louis Symphony, University of Missouri-St.Louis and Webster University.
Edward Jones Partners and Associates
For the past 20 years, the partners and associates of Edward Jones have been true champions of the arts, raising more than $4 million by mounting thoroughly unique workplace giving campaigns. In 2013, Edward Jones surpassed its internal goal of $450,000 by contributing more than $474,000, with three out of every four partners and associates giving to the A&E campaign. With Corporate Champions of the Arts such as these, it’s not surprising that Edward Jones continues to receive Forbes magazine’s “Best Place to Work” recognition year after year.
St. Louis Symphony
Founded in 1880, the St. Louis Symphony is internationally recognized as an orchestra ensemble of the highest caliber, performing a robust musical repertoire with skill and spirit. The symphony continues to build upon its stellar reputation of musical excellence, which includes six Grammy® Awards and 56 Grammy® nominations, while maintaining its commitment to local education and community outreach. In doing so, the musicians of the orchestra have shared their love of music with millions and introduced classical music to new audiences of all ages. Each year, symphony musicians participate in more than 250 free performances and events throughout the St. Louis region.
Lee Nolting, COCA
Lee Nolting’s achievements over the past 35 years as a dance teacher are legendary. She has inspired myriad students, ranging from grade-schoolers discovering the joy of dance to young professionals in some of the nation’s top dance companies. Since joining the faculty of COCA upon its founding in 1987, “Miss Lee” as she is widely known, developed a pre-professional dance program to offer students high-level training; a Talent Identified Program to help gifted dancers from disadvantaged neighborhoods train at COCA; and student performance companies. She also was instrumental in establishing a scholarship program for COCA students and transported them to and from classes when necessary. Nolting, one of the most beloved and respected dance teachers in the area, is known for setting high standards for her students, and through patience and instruction, giving them the tools to aim for and achieve excellence.
Des Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative
The Des Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative supports fine arts teachers in the St. Louis region by funding the delivery and promotion of arts curricula. One of its goals is to make the region’s fine arts institutions accessible to all students, regardless of their economic, ethnic or cultural backgrounds. Currently, the collaborative provides services for more than 120 schools from 16 districts. Approximately 7,500 students from collaborative schools attend in-school programs annually and more than 14,000 attend local classical concerts, operas, dance performances, jazz concerts, and tour art museums each year. The collaborative also makes it possible for students to perform at such storied places as Powell Hall and the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center.
Heidi Morgan, University City High School
Heidi Morgan has been a dance teacher at University City High School for more than 20 years. She is also an alumnus of the school and a major piece of the heart and soul of the district. With a clear desire to ensure that all young people are exposed to the joy of dancing, Morgan has recruited countless students with disabilities to her dance classes, even requesting that classes be “opened up” to allow for additional enrollment. She was the recipient of the 2008-2009 Special Ambassador Award, the highest recognition given by the Special School District of St. Louis. So beloved is Morgan that students in her advanced dance class insisted on participating in the nomination process for the Arts Awards. “These honorees represent the breadth of the arts community and the exceptional creative work happening across the St. Louis region,” said Cynthia A. Prost, president of the Arts and Education Council. “We are honored to recognize their achievements and welcome the community to join us in celebrating their contributions to St. Louis and the world.”
Presenting Sponsor
Principal Sponsors
Lynne and Jim Turley
Stage and Entertainment Sponsor
Cocktail Reception
Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award
Ken and Nancy Kranzberg
Art Educator of the Year Award
Art Educator of the Year Award
Gift Sponsor
Premier Table Sponsor
Media Sponsors
Production Sponsor
Major Benefactors
Honoree Luncheon Sponsor
Kickoff Reception Sponsors
Lynne and Jim Turley