Meet Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012
Submitted by Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame
Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame will be celebrating lives and accomplishments of seven new inductees at its biannual awards banquet Thursday, April 19, at Pipers Banquets, 1295 Butterfield Road, in Aurora.
The Class of 2012, the sixth group of artists so honored, brings the total number of inductees to 44.
The black-tie-optional affair, open to the public, begins with cocktails and entertainment at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the induction ceremony at 7 p.m. Reservations are $75 per person.
“The Induction Banquet is our group’s signature event and is always well-attended, so we encourage people to make their reservations early. There’s something very energizing about celebrating lives of achievement, especially in the fine arts,” said Murna Hansemann of Elgin, vice president of events and coordinator of the gala,
The deadline for reservations is Monday, April 16.
The board of directors will host a private reception for the Class of 2012 immediately before to the social hour to give the honorees an opportunity to meet each other as well as previous inductees.
After dinner, each inductee is introduced and presented with an inscribed medallion and a certificate noting their achievement. A personalized Arts Hall of Fame plaque will be added to a permanent exhibit of the Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame, housed at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Aurora.
The artists composing the Class of 2012 to be honored April 19 are as follows. Three members — Gower Champion, George Grant Elmslie and John Qualen — are being recognized posthumously.
Gower Champion, Dancer, Choreographer and Director: Champion was a standout in multiple performing arts from 1949 through 1981. Born in Geneva in 1919, he first partnered with his wife, Marge, to dance for film and television, rising to stardom in the 1951 movie “Showboat.” He became one of Broadway’s most renowned musical directors and choreographers, earning 15 nominations and winning eight Tony Awards for such hits as “Bye, Bye Birdie,” “Hello Dolly!” and “42nd Street.”
Annbritt (Gemmer) duChateau, Musical Conductor: DuChateau was born in 1965 and grew up in Aurora. She conducted numerous Broadway shows including “Miss Saigon,” “Pal Joey,” “Phantom of the Opera” and Les Miserables.” Also a keyboardist, she has performed on Tony and Grammy-nominated cast albums and appeared with ABBA in Carnegie Hall. She conducted the international showing of “Mary Poppins” and is currently the New York conductor for “Bill Elliott.”
George Grant Elmslie, Architect: A leader in the Prairie School of Architects, Elmslie was born in Scotland in 1871 and came to Chicago in 1884, where he worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. He left a legacy of buildings within the downtown area of Aurora that have been tourist destinations for architectural enthusiasts from around the world. The Old Second National Bank, the Keystone Building, and the Healy Chapel are among the gems he designed in the Fox Valley.
Carolyn Hove, English horn: Born in Elgin in 1958, Hove is solo English horn for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, a position she has held since 1988. She has recorded three solo CDs, arranged pieces by Beethoven and Ravel for English horn and piano, and lectured at leading music schools in the U.S., Canada and Europe, including the Royal Academy of Music in London. She also served on the Executive Committee of the International Double Reed Society.
Delbert Peterson, Painter: Peterson was born in Aurora in 1926. After graduating from Aurora East High School in 1944 and completing military service, Delbert worked for nine years as an artist for industry and then opened his own studio in Batavia. His paintings have been featured in national collections and exhibited in five states. Four of his watercolors were selected for the national calendar Artists of America. He continues to teach in Vero Beach, Fla.
John Qualen, Motion Picture Actor: Born in British Columbia in 1899, Qualen graduated from Elgin High School in 1920. He won an Illinois State oratory contest and a scholarship to Northwestern University, where he became interested in acting. As a specialist for character parts, he was a master of Scandinavian dialects. From 1931 to 1974, he appeared in more than 130 films, including “Casablanca” and “The Grapes of Wrath.”
Dominic Walsh, Dancer, Choreographer: Born in 1971 and raised in West Dundee, Walsh was trained in dance in Elgin and began his career in Chicago. In 1996, he was named a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet. He was a finalist in the International Ballet Competition, formerly known at the Varna Competition, and has been featured in Dance Magazine. In 2002, he founded the Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre of Houston where he currently serves as artistic director.
To be considered for induction, candidates must be associated with the Fox Valley through birth, education, residence, or service. They also must have completed a minimum 20 years in their professional field and received national or international recognition.
The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame was first established in March 2000 as the Aurora Fine Arts Recognition Committee. The organization is a registered not-for-profit, and all donations help fund current and future projects.
Additional information about the Arts Hall of Fame and profiles of the past inductees may be found at www.foxvalleyarts.org.
Anyone interested in attending the April 19 banquet may call (630) 605-4000 to request an invitation.