Guild gathers at D’Oro in Beaver Creek for summer soiree

Icy, tinkling beverages and sumptuous Italian appetizers were consumed with gusto as a gleeful gaggle of Vilar Center Guild aficionados gathered to celebrate the arts Tuesday night.Following a very successful winter fundraiser, the first annual Guild Summer Party took place beneath a sizzling summer sunset at D’Oro in the Charter at Beaver Creek.This year’s party was generously donated by the guild’s friends at D’Oro including owner Steve Negler, Paolo Busi and Keith Beck, operations manager, all also of Ti Amo restaurant fame.Keith told me, “As with Ti Amo, our core values include being a part of the community we do business in. Whenever we are able, we donate to nonprofit and community events to help make this valley the great place it is to live. And we all have a strong love of music, so when we were approached by the Guild to help them with their event, we jumped at the opportunity. Being the new kids on the block in Beaver Creek, we want to do everything we can to make this as great of a destination as we can.”And speaking of new kids on the block, Guild party-goers were introduced by Guild President, Cindy Bright, to two young up-and-coming (say the next two words as the Queen would upon seeing her Corgi, Dookie, win best of show) absolutely brilliant (and, okay, this writer might be just a tad biased) local stars from the Vail Performing Arts Academy who were awarded Guild sponsorships to cover their tuition in this summer’s VPAA musical, “West Side Story.”Kris Thornton, a junior from Battle Mountain High School, and Rodrigo Hernandez, a senior from Eagle Valley High School, delighted the crowd with their animated rendition of “We Can Do It” from the Broadway hit musical “The Producers” as they demonstrated their passion for performing and their heart-felt gratitude.Thornton will play Tony, and Hernandez will play Bernardo in VPAA’s “West Side Story, which will be performed at the Vilar Performing Arts Center Aug. 20, 21 and 22.”Having the kids here means so much, especially since so many members are here and can see how their money is being put to good use,” said executive committee member Lyn Bercher. “There are so many great programs, and the Guild is happy to recognize VPAA as one of them.”And it is very cool to note that, thanks to D’Oro, 100 percent of the Summer Guild Party proceeds goes toward their very successful outreach programs. In the spirit of the Guild’s mission of creating an atmosphere of awareness and appreciation for the Vilar Performing Arts Center, Tom McCalden said, “Volunteering is part of our hedonistic existence here in the Vail Valley. It looks like we’re giving, but we all get a lot out of it.”For more information about the Vilar Guild and the Vilar Performing Arts Center, contact the Vilar box office at 888-920-ARTS, or visit http://www.vilarpac.org.