High Altitude Society column: Bravo! Vail celebrates 30 years
High Altitude Society
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Jeanne Gustafson, Jack and Kathleen Eck, Michele Resnick and Marty Head celebrate at the 30th Bravo! Vail Gala.
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Susan and Steven Suggs, who chaired the event previously, joined many other past leaders at the gala.
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Carol Coletti, Cheryll Hobart, Martha Rehm and Priscilla King enjoy the beautiful patio at The Ritz Carlton at Bachelor Gulch.
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Pat Harrington, Elaine Kelton and Sara Charles chat before dinner.
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Deirdre Baker and Lisa Schanzer co-chaired the event on July 16.
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Alysa Rotella shared the evening with her mother-in-law, Donna Rotella.
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Former Board Chair Dan and Sue Godec with Nancy Stevens, who manages the box office.
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Former Bravo! Vail Music Festival Board Chair Alan Kosloff, left, has retired from the board of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. He's pictured here with Bravo! Artistic Director Anne-Marie McDermott.
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Chef Daniel Joly and his wife, Nathalie, of Mirabelle.
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Becky Hernreich, Doe Browning and Ivy Kushner.
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Debbie and Fred Tresca.
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Ann and Tom Rader.
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Stacy and Mike Brown with Executive Director Jennifer Teisinger.
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Marilyn Augur with Howard and Cathy Stone.
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Rob Wright, Sheika Gramshammer and John McDonald.
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Kay Chester and Sue Godec.
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Jonathan Rotella, Deb and Ed Fitts, of Brand Winery, and chef Daniel Joly.
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Carolyn Pope Vail Valley Scenery
Shakespeare said, “If music be the food of love, play on.”
Recently, the staff, board and volunteers of Bravo! Vail celebrated their 30th gala and, appropriately, there was no shortage of music, nor food, nor love.
Deirdre Baker and Lisa Schanzer recognized all of those who chaired the event over the past 30 years, from Marge Burdick to recent chairs, including Michele and Jeffrey Resnick, Carole and Peter Segal and Steven and Susan Suggs. Many of the past leaders were present at the event.
“We were all trying to do something a little different this year and to focus on the music,” said co-chair Deirdre Baker. “The energy changed, and it all came together.”
New Format
Bravo! Vail mixed it up for the gala this year, tossing out the old format and replacing it with a creative new timeline, which kept guests attentive and staying late.
After perusing the auction, noshing on passed appetizers and clicking fun pictures in the photo booth, the guests entered the beautifully decorated ballroom. After the salad course, the amazing mezzo-soprano Patricia Racette and pianist Craig Terry wowed the audience with her show “Diva on Detour,” which featured renditions of some classics.
After dinner was complete, the generosity of those present raised substantial funds for the festival and their educational programs. The auction packages, as usual, were outstanding and included items including VIP tickets to the 40th Kennedy Center Awards; an exclusive Sonoma Wine Weekend at Brand Vineyards, courtesy of Deb and Ed Fitts; a New York City soiree at the Woolworth tower with Anne-Marie McDermott and members of the New York Philharmonic; and, of course, the final and incomparable item, the opportunity to conduct the New York Philharmonic. This year, Kay Chester took the stage to conduct the Wiliam Tell Overture.
The evening finished off with Denver diva Hazel Miller and her band rousing all of those with enough energy to kick up their heels to her diverse repertoire.
Bravo! Vail Music Festival concludes the first week of August. Several performances are still available for purchase. Visit http://www.bravovail.org to purchase tickets and find out more about their organization.
