Blumenthal Performing Arts Honors Three Community Leaders for 2013 Center Stage Awards

Blumenthal Performing Arts awarded three Center Stage Awards to community leaders during its annual meeting Nov. 12 in the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts.

Roger and Chris Watson

Roger and Chris Watson joined the Blumenthal Volunteer Team in October 2010 with a rich background in performing arts. Both were active in the Dayton Playhouse Theater where Chris was House Manager and Roger was an actor and volunteer. Since relocating to this area, they have been involved with the Davidson Community Players and the Old Courthouse Theater in Concord. They joined Blumenthal's team with great enthusiasm - working many events including school shows, the Blumey Awards as well as performances. They both excel in dependability and customer service. They have already volunteered over 1,040 hours in three short years. The Watson's are an amazing couple and we are thrilled to have them on the Blumenthal team! They represent all the best qualities of our fabulous volunteers.

Elevation Church

Elevation Church began renting venues from Blumenthal Performing Arts in August of 2008 when Elevation launched its Uptown Campus at Spirit Square. In the five years since then, Elevation has become Blumenthal's second largest annual rental client and more than 50,000 people a year get to experience and enjoy Blumenthal's Spirit Square campus on Sundays because of the relationship with Elevation Church.

Frank Casstevens

Frank Casstevens, an accomplished pianist, has served Monroe's Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts for 27 years. He was the school's general music teacher for 21 years, and has served as Arts Coordinator for the past six years. Based on a report of his accomplishments, in 2011 President Obama's Arts and Humanities Committee visited Benton Heights to observe his work. In June of this year Casstevens received the prestigious Yale University Distinguished Music Educator of the Year Award.

For ten years now, Casstevens and Benton Heights have partnered with Blumenthal in our special Arts Integration Model program (known as AIM). Through AIM, Blumenthal and Benton Heights jointly provide teaching artists to assist classroom teachers in integrating both performing and visual arts in the teaching of core curriculum subjects to hundreds of students each year.

Three years ago Casstevens brought a wonderful children's choir from Benton Heights perform at one of our corporate events. He is a tremendous Blumenthal supporter and patron, regularly bringing groups of students and teachers to Blumenthal performances, special events and workshops.

Blumenthal Performing Arts serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education provider. For more information, call (704) 372-1000 or visit www.BlumenthalArts.org.

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