Photo Flash: Michael Feinstein and Friends Headline Center for the Performing Arts Fundraiser in Carmel

Great American Songbook Foundation founder Michael Feinstein and rocker-turned-cabaret-bombshell Storm Large headlined an Oct. 15 gala that raised over $500,000 to support educational and artistic programs at the foundation's home, the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Scroll down for photos!

The fifth annual Songbook Celebration gala also included the inductions of Hoagy Carmichael, Dionne Warwick and Diahann Carroll into the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame. Warwick made special mention of her longtime collaborators, songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and pianist Randy Carmichael accepted the honor on behalf of his late father, author of "Stardust" and other classic songs.

Dressed to the nines in Roaring Twenties costume, the crowd of 350 in the Center's Palladium concert hall also were delighted by performances from Jordan Donica, currently appearing as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera at Broadway's Majestic Theatre; Tony-winning singer-actress Nikki M. James, known for roles in Book of Mormon, TV's The Good Wife and the new CBS drama Braindead; and Great American Songbook Youth Ambassadors Lucas DeBard and Brighton Thomas, respectively the 2015 and 2016 winners of the annual Songbook Academy® competition for high school vocalists.

Songbook Celebration was sponsored by Krieg DeVault LLP with additional support from Katz, Sapper & Miller and First Merchants Bank. Next year's gala is scheduled Oct. 7, 2017.

Five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein founded the Great American Songbook Foundation in 2007 with a mission to inspire and educate by celebrating the Great American Songbook. The Foundation is housed at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Ind. More information is available at www.TheSongbook.org.

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