In partnership with the British Embassy, annual fundraising gala took place September 15, 2018 on the Filene Center Stage
- Ball Co-Chairs Teresa Carlson and Don and Angela Irwin led the event effort, raising a record-high $1.7 million in support of Wolf Trap Foundation’s national arts and education programs
- His Excellency Sir Kim Darroch KCMG, British Ambassador to the United States and Lady Darroch, served as Honorary Hosts
- Performances by Wolf Trap Opera alumni Alexander McKissick and Alexandra Nowakowski kicked off the event
- Three course seated dinner for nearly 900 guests
- Décor represented the arts, culture, and iconic symbols of Great Britain, from London’s classic pubs to fashion influences spanning classic sophisticated tweeds, buttoned-down plaids, and fashion-forward and edgy punk rock London.
- Lighting effects included a ceiling of chandeliers fashioned from nearly 100 oversized umbrellas, and a dancefloor backdrop depiction of one of Britain’s famous landmarks, the London Eye
- Entertainment included songs from the second British invasion by the band The Legwarmers
- Thousands of additional dollars raised through a raffle to win a luxurious stay and opportunity to attend a historic first-ever American baseball game in London
Vienna, VA (September 19, 2018) – On Saturday, September 15, nearly 900 guests came together for the annual Wolf Trap Ball, celebrating the end of Wolf Trap’s summer season and raising $1.7 million in support of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Art’s arts and education programs. Held onstage at the Filene Center stage at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, this year’s Ball honored the arts and culture of Britain, and was hosted in partnership with the British Embassy and in cooperation with the National Park Service.
His Excellency Sir Kim Darroch KCMG, British Ambassador to the United States and Lady Darroch served as Honorary Hosts for the evening. The Ball was co-chaired by Teresa Carlson and Don and Angela Irwin.
“What a great evening, capping off a spectacular summer season at Wolf Trap. It was an honor to partner with the British Embassy to celebrate British arts and culture,” said Arvind Manocha, president and CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation. “Many thanks to our co-chairs Teresa Carlson and Don and Angela Irwin for leading a record breaking philanthropic campaign. The $1.7 million raised at the Ball supports Wolf Trap Foundation’s array of year-round musical offerings, as well as our award-winning arts and education programs. And the night wouldn’t have been possible without the partnership of Ambassador Darroch and the British Embassy, who were instrumental in helping to create a strikingly beautiful celebration of the thriving arts and culture of Britain.”
“I’ve been to Wolf Trap several times to see some of my favourite British and American performers, so it was a privilege to return to this world-class venue as the honorary host of the 2018 Wolf Trap Ball,” said Ambassador Darroch. “Wolf Trap is more than just a concert venue. It’s the country’s only national park dedicated to both educating and entertaining its guests in the performing arts. The UK has a proud history of producing some of the world’s best musical talent, and Wolf Trap has been generous in showcasing British performers. So it was a pleasure to represent the UK on this special British-themed evening.”
Guests included philanthropic and business leaders, members of the U.S. Congress, and state and local governments: former Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe; U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK), as well as Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax; and several members of the Virginia General Assembly. In addition to Ambassador Darroch, guests included Ambassadors Sergio Silva do Amaral (Brazil), Navtej Sarna (India), Gier Haarde (Iceland), and Virachai Plasai (Thailand).
Wolf Trap Foundation and the Embassy crafted an evening that celebrated the arts, culture and cuisine of Great Britain. Upon entering, guests saw the Filene Center stage—one of the largest in the nation—transformed with magnificent décor: images of The Union Jack, bustling streetscapes, and the iconic London Eye. Guests were immersed in the sophistication and spirit of Great Britain through authentic fare by Design Cuisine including savory scones and biscuits, fish and chips, grilled lamb and Yorkshire pudding. Philippa Tarrant and Twigz provided the colorful and lush florals.
Entertainment for the evening began with performances by Wolf Trap Opera alumni Alexander McKissick and Alexandra Nowakowski. Following dinner, hundreds of guests took to the dance floor in the “Wolf and the Trap Pub” to enjoy new wave British music performed by The Legwarmers. One lucky guest won a business-class travel to experience a luxurious four-night stay at the five-star Rosewood Hotel in London, along with a slew of luxury meals and unique experiences.
2018 Wolf Trap Ball sponsors included: Season Underwriters Dan and Gayle D’Aniello; Lead Sponsors Gary D. Mather and Christina Co Mather; Host Sponsors Amazon Web Services, The Boeing Company, Shashikant and Margaret Gupta, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Karen and Fred Schaufeld; Diamond Sponsors Hillary and Tom Baltimore, Bentley Motors, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, KPMG, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, MicroStrategy, National Counseling Group, PwC LLP, Telos Corporation, Win Virginia, and Suzanne and Glenn Youngkin.
Proceeds from the Ball benefit Wolf Trap Foundation’s renowned arts and education programs, including Wolf Trap Opera and Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. Wolf Trap presents artists as diverse as the greater Washington, D.C. community, including initiatives to commission new works and performances from legends and top artists from every genre –classical, pop, rock, jazz, opera, folk, and dance. In addition to the arts programs, each year Wolf Trap Foundation and its affiliate organizations education programs serve nearly 100,000 children and adults locally and nationally.
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Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, produces and presents a full range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington area, as well as nationally. Wolf Trap features three performance venues: the outdoor Filene Center and Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, both located at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and The Barns at Wolf Trap, located down the road from the national park and adjacent to the Center for Education at Wolf Trap. The 7,028-seat Filene Center is operated in partnership with the National Park Service and annually showcases an extensive array of diverse artists, ranging from pop, country, folk, and blues to classical music, dance, and theatre, as well as multimedia presentations, from May through September. The Barns at Wolf Trap is operated by the Wolf Trap Foundation year round, and during the summer months is home to the Grammy-nominated Wolf Trap Opera, one of America’s outstanding resident ensemble programs for young opera singers. Wolf Trap’s education programs include the nationally acclaimed Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, a diverse array of arts education classes, grants, and a nationally recognized internship program.
Media Contacts:
Erick Hoffman, Director, Communications