Tag Archives: Overture Awards

Lenox Wealth Management’s Jay Lame
and Dance Pro Leigh Bradshaw
Crowned DANCING FOR THE STARS 2016 Champs
After Historic Tie-Breaking Dance-Off

Jamie Humes named ‘Fundraising Champion’

CINCINNATI, OH – After a first-ever, historic two-way tie for first place that resulted in a dance-off between the top-two competitors, Jay Lame (Financial Analyst, Lenox Wealth Management) and his dance pro Leigh Bradshaw (Cincinnati Ballroom Company) were crowned the champions of the 10^th Anniversary edition of Cincinnati Arts Association’s (CAA) annual Dancing for the Stars on Saturday, April 9, 2016 at the Music Hall Ballroom.

The teams of Lame/Bradshaw and Jamie Humes (Vice President of Marketing, Traditions Building & Development Group) and Josh Tilford (Independent Dance Instructor) both received perfect scores of 40 (out of 40). First-runner-up Humes also took home the ‘Fundraising Champion’ Award, as the celebrity who raised the most money for the event through ticket sales and donations.

With an audience this year of nearly 650 guests, the popular event is CAA’s largest annual fundraiser, and raised more than $90,000 in support of the organization’s acclaimed arts education programs, including the Overture Awards – the nation’s largest locally-run high school arts scholarship competition.

Conrad Thiede (Director of Gifts, Cincinnati Public Radio) and Bonita Brockert (Independent Dance Instructor) placed third in the competition.

The remaining five dance pairs included:

• Stephen Beck, MD (Chief Medical Information Officer, Mercy Health) and Desiree Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati)
• Eric Combs (Trial Lawyer and Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl) and Doreen Beatrice (Independent Dance Instructor)
• Casey Hilmer (Co-owner and Founder, Power Ryde) and Alyenendrov Tsorokean (Phoenix Rising Ballroom)
• Lakshmi Sammarco (Hamilton County Coroner) and Jeremy Mainous (Arthur Murray Dance Studio – Cincinnati)
• Marianna Vardaka, MD (Board Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist) and Jozsef Parragh  (Independent Dance Instructor) 

Inspired by the hit ABC-TV show Dancing with the Stars, Dancing for the Stars 2016 featured eight Cincinnati celebrities paired with some of the area’s finest professional dancers in a competition program, at which the audience vote and judges scores propelled the winners to victory. The competitive dance for the evening was Disco, and each dance pair had 90 seconds to woo the crowd and the judges.

Event emcees were Chris O’Brien and Janeen Coyle (“Married With Microphones,” 103.5 WGRR-FM). The four competition judges were Douglas Beal (independent dance instructor), Doug Bolton (Managing Principal, Cushman & Wakefield; Dancing for the Stars 2015 Fundraising Champion), Carri Chandler (External Affairs Specialist, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North American, Inc.; Dancing for the Stars 2011 alum), and Joe Rigotti (creative director, Accent on Cincinnati; event planner; Dancing for the Stars 2012 alum).

Currently in its tenth year, Dancing for the Stars has become one of the most-anticipated fundraising events of the season.  Since the event’s debut in 2007, more than 70 local notables have ‘danced for a cause’. The impressive list of past champions includes:  2007 – Dr. O’dell Owens (former president, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College; former Hamilton County coroner); 2008 – Jenell Walton (reporter, WLWT-TV5; former reporter, The List; former WCPO-TV9 anchor and reporter); 2009 – Phil Schworer (Attorney, Frost Brown Todd; former president, Cincinnati Bar Association); 2010 – Donna Speigel (owner, The Snooty Fox); 2011 – Dr. Tracey Skale, M.D. (chief medical officer, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral  Health Services), 2012 –  Regina Russo (chief of communications, Contemporary Arts Center; former director of marketing and communications, Cincinnati Art Museum; former anchor/reporter, WXIX-TV19), 2013 – Chris Seelbach (Cincinnati City Councilman), 2014 – Neal Schulte (founder & president, Schulte Financial Group, LLC), and 2015 – Johnny Chu (owner, KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia restaurant).

In addition, Dancing for the Stars 2016 featured:

• Dinner-by-the-bite provided by A Catered Affair; Alfio’s buon cibo; Eddie Merlot’s; Incredible Delights; Jeff Thomas Catering; Kroger; Lala’s Blissful Bites; Metropolitan Club; Oriental Wok; Palomino Restaurant & Bar; Prime 47; Skyline Chili; Urban Artifact (beer tasting); Vonderhaar’s Catering, Inc.; and Whole Foods Market
• Silent Auction
• Popular DJ and 103.5 WGRR personality Rockin’ Ron Schumacher
• Pre-event wine tasting and meet-and-greet with the stars
• Open dancing before and after the competition

Event highlights included:

• An inspiring 20^th Anniversary video about the Overture Awards featuring interviews with many of the student competitors.

• Two big screens that featured live video of the competition and engaging video introductions of the stars and pros (interviews and rehearsal footage) before their dances.

• Decked out in a gold lamé disco shirt and black pants, Champion Jay Lame showed his best disco moves with Pro Leigh Bradshaw accompanied by Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff.”
• Fundraising Champion Jamie Humes and Pro Josh Tilford wowed the audience with expert spins and lifts to a mash-up of Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” and Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough.”
• Third-place finisher Conrad Thiede was ‘stayin’ alive’ for an extended Saturday Night Fever solo dance break that whipped the crowd into a ‘night fever’; he and Pro Bonita Brockert danced to an extended medley of hits from the popular disco film.
• Stephen Beck showed off his ‘worm dance’ moves and ‘70s leisure suit during his routine with Pro Desiree Mainous to the hit song “Disco Inferno.”
• “Oh, behave, Baby” is what Eric Combs, dressed head to toe as Austin Powers (wig covering his bald head), seemed to be saying to Pro Doreen Beatrice as the pair disco-ed to a medley of the Paul Oakenfold’s “1975” and the Guess Who’s “American Woman.”
• Casey Hilmer and her Pro Alyenendrov Tsorokean amazed the crowd with a disco routine featuring numerous, jaw-dropping lifts; the pair entered the dance floor with raincoats and umbrellas and performed to Gloria Gaynor’s dance mix of “It’s Raining Men.”
• In the intro video before their charming disco routine, Pro Jeremy Mainous revealed that Hamilton County Coroner, Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco, thinks Zombies are real and is an A-Type personality who likes to take the lead.
• One of the night’s best-dressed dance pairs was Dr. Marianna Vardaka in a shimmering and colorful disco body suit and her Pro, Jozsef Parragh, in a ‘70s-inspired outfit complete with wig, sunglasses, and gold chain.
• An encore dance by last season’s champions Johnny Chu and Doreen Beatrice to James Brown’s “Get Up Offa That Thing” featured Johnny in a James Brown wig performing some of Brown’s best solo moves.

• Humorous, astute, and supportive comments from the Dancing for the Stars panel of judges.
• The event had an exceptionally responsive, raucous, and energetic audience, which included large cheering sections holding signs with various messages in support of their favorite Stars.
• After the competition, the dance floor at the Music Hall Ballroom filled with hundreds of guests who danced the night away to music by DJ Rockin’ Ron from 103.5 WGRR.

Dancing for the Stars 2016 Presenting Sponsor: TriHealth 

Dancing for the Stars 2016 Event Sponsors:  Arthur Murray – Cincinnati, Doreen Beatrice, Bonita Brockert, Cincinnati Ballroom Company, Crest Graphics, Inc., Heidelberg Distributing, Jozsef Parragh, Pebble Creek Group, Phoenix Rising Ballroom, Josh Tilford

Dancing for the Stars 2016 Committee:  Dr. Tracey Skale (co-chair, Dancing for the Stars 2011 winner), Phil Schworer (co-chair, Dancing for the Stars 2009 winner), Christina Bolden, Terry Foster, Sue Gilkey, Jim Howland, Ginger Loftin, and Rosemary Schlachter.

CAA’s OVERTURE AWARDS AND ARTS EDUCTION PROGRAMS
Cincinnati Arts Association’s Education and Community Relations programs promote life-long engagement in the arts, while contributing to individual, organizational, and community success.  With a mission to educate, inspire, and engage the Tri-state region, these accessible arts programs ignite the imagination of students of all ages.

The Overture Awards is one of several programs (which also include Artist on Tour, SchoolTime, Emerging Arts Leaders, and more) that have served more than 1.4 million children and adults since the inception of CAA’s Education and Community Relations programs nearly two decades ago.  CAA is proud of its newest initiative, “Arts in Healing,” that will promote wellness through the arts.

The Overture Awards – the largest locally-run, high school arts scholarship competition in the country – recognizes, encourages, and rewards excellence in the arts among Tri-State students in grades 9-12.  It also provides students an opportunity to share their talents and interests among their peers in a supportive environment outside of their individual schools.

Each year, more than 450 students are nominated by their schools to compete, and this year’s competition awarded $42,000 in scholarships for excellence in Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. To date, the Overture Awards has awarded more than $665,000 to support artistically-talented students in pursuit of their dreams.  Now in its 20^th year, the Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation and Leadership Cincinnati (a Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce program).

For more information about CAA’s Education and Community programs, visit www.cincinnatiarts.org/education-community.

CINCINNATI ARTS ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 700,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies.

CAA ANNOUNCES
2015 OVERTURE AWARD WINNERS

$45,500 Awarded for Excellence in the Arts
New Arts Educator Award Winner Also Announced    

CINCINNATI, OH – The Cincinnati Arts Association is pleased to announce the winners of its Overture Awards Competition, held on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at the Aronoff Center’s Jarson-Kaplan Theater, and the winner of its new Arts Educator Award for Excellence in Arts Instruction. The competition awarded $4,000 to six area students for education and training, with 18 runners-up each winning $1,000, while the Arts Educator Award winner received $2,500 and two finalists were awarded $500 each.

The Overture Awards recognizes, encourages and rewards excellence in the arts among Tri-state students in grades 9-12 and is the area’s largest solo arts competition. Students are nominated by their schools and/or private studios to compete in one of six disciplines: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. There are three levels of competition: Regional, Semi-Final, and Final.

The Arts Educator Award promotes and rewards excellence in arts instruction throughout Greater Cincinnati. An educator who teaches any of the following arts disciplines may be nominated: Creative Writing, Dance, Instrumental Music, Theater, Visual Art, and Vocal Music. They can be a high school arts specialist, teaching artist working with high school students, or an arts professional or educator providing private lessons or instruction. Video nominations for the award must come from students between the ages of 14-19 who are currently enrolled in high school. The Arts Educator Award finalists and winner are selected by a panel of judges who are arts professionals.

The Arts Educator Award was first introduced during the 2006-07 Season as the “Theater Educator Award” and was originally created by Jackie Demaline, former Cincinnati Enquirer theatre critic and arts reporter, as one of the first initiatives of the Enquirer’s Acclaim Awards for Excellence in Cincinnati Theatre. In recent years, the Theatre Educator Award was hosted and presented by the League of Cincinnati Theaters at its annual theatre award ceremony. With its move to the Cincinnati Arts Association’s Overture Awards program, the Theatre Educator Award has broadened its scope to become the Arts Educator Award.

The Overture Awards Regional Competitions were held on January 10 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Immanuel United Methodist Church (Lakeside Park, KY), Saint Ursula Academy, University of Cincinnati – Blue Ash College, and Xavier University. The top twenty percent of competitors in each discipline advanced to the Semi-Finals, which were held at the Aronoff Center on January 16 and 17.

Now in its 19th year, The Overture Awards was launched in 1996 by the Cinergy Foundation (now Duke Energy) and Leadership Cincinnati (a program of the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce). The Overture Awards is funded and administered by the Cincinnati Arts Association, which operates and manages the Aronoff Center and Music Hall. The Overture Awards also relies on hundreds of volunteers from the community who help raise funds, adjudicate and manage the competitions, and nurture the program.

Overture Awards Program Sponsors:  Carey Digital; Citi; The Eleanora C.U. Alms Trust, Fifth Third Bank, Trustee, Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc.

Scholarship Sponsors: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation; The William O. Purdy, Jr. Foundation; Summerfair Cincinnati; Western & Southern Financial.

Competition Sponsors: Buddy Roger’s Music, Immanuel United Methodist Church (Lakeside Park, KY), St. Ursula Academy, University of Cincinnati – Blue Ash College, Xavier University.

2015 Overture Awards Winners

CREATIVE WRITING:  Zoe Cheng – Walnut Hills High School, grade 12
HOMETOWN: Hyde Park, OH – Zoe is a senior at Walnut Hills High School, where she is editor-in-chief of the student newspaper and president of Film Production Club. Last June, her stage play Pillow Talk was produced by The Blank Theatre in Hollywood, and her poetry has been published in The Best Teen Writing of 2012 and 2014. Zoe believes that sharing stories can foster both empathy and hope, and aspires to work as either a screenwriter or international journalist.

DANCE:  Joseph Harrington – Just Off Broadway/School for Creative & Performing Arts, grade 10
HOMETOWN: Eastgate/Clermont County, OH – Joseph has studied dance since age 3 and would tell you his greatest inspiration has been his big sister Allix. Outside of school, Joseph trains at Just Off Broadway in Mt. Carmel. He attends class and workshops across the U.S., has been the recipient of multiple dance awards, and most recently was named “Breakout Artist” for NUVO. Joseph is also an accomplished actor and vocalist and has many Broadway, regional, (and Off Broadway!) shows to his credit.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC:  Matthew Repka – Conner High School, grade 12
HOMETOWN: Hebron, KY – Matthew Repka is a senior at Conner High School and has performed in percussion for seven years. He has participated in the Kentucky All-State Bands, Northern Kentucky Select Bands, Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Fillmore Wind Band. He has been the Percussion Captain for the Conner High School Marching Band and has been recognized for his musical achievements by the Boone County Board of Education. Upon graduation, he plans on majoring in Music Education.

THEATER:  Kalie Kaimann – Seton High School, grade 12
HOMETOWN: Delhi, OH – Kalie is proud to be participating in the Overture Awards Finals Competition again this year! She’s a senior at Seton High School and a full-time vocal student with Karl Resnik at the Musical Arts Center. Kalie is a performer with We Duet All Entertainment, and she can be seen onstage with Cincinnati Landmark Productions. Kalie plans to pursue Musical Theatre as a career after college and hopes this competition can help her on her journey!

VISUAL ART:  Phoenix Brown – School for Creative & Performing Arts, grade 12       
HOMETOWN: College Hill, OH – Phoenix Brown is a Visual Arts major at School for Creative & Performing Arts. Her work has been exhibited many times in local galleries around Cincinnati. As an illustrator, she wants her art to feel familiar to the thoughts and memories of the people who view it. Challenging the viewer to create a narrative of their own is the most powerful concept of her illustrations.

VOCAL MUSIC:  James Rootring – Karl Resnik Studio / Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, grade 11
HOMETOWN: Mt. Lookout/Hyde Park, OH – James studies with Karl Resnik and participates in MAC’s Young Artists Preparatory Program, directed by Lincoln Chapman. James performs in Encore choir, Electric Jazz Orchestra, and Chapel band. James is honored to participate in the Overture finals again this year. James was recently named a 2015 National YoungArts Foundation Winner. James will make his professional debut in the chorus of Cincinnati Opera’s Turandot this summer. James plans a dual major in vocal performance and business.

2015 Arts educator award Winner

Gina Cerimele-Mechley, Cincinnati Actor’s Studio & Academy
Discipline: Theatre
#Years working/teaching: 25
Nominated by Kate Coley
View the winning nomination video.

The 2015 Overture Awards Finalists

Winners listed in bold.

 CREATIVE WRITING

• Zoe Cheng—grade 12, Walnut Hills High School
• Katie Hibner—grade 12, William Mason High School
• Meg Spencer—grade 12, Beechwood High School
• Alexandra Sukin—grade 12, Cincinnati Country Day School

DANCE

• Jordan Betscher—grade 11, Just Off Broadway/Homeschool
• Joseph Harrington—grade 10, Just Off Broadway/School for Creative & Performing Arts
• Megan Kernan—grade 12, Just Off Broadway/Turpin High School
• Mary Moore—grade 11, School for Creative & Performing Arts

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

• Emma Burge—grade 11, Sycamore High School
• Isabella Geis—grade 11, Walnut Hills High School
• David Godar—grade 9, CCM Preparatory/Sycamore High School
• Matthew Repka—grade 12, Conner High School

THEATER

• Kennedy Carstens—grade 12, Ursuline Academy
• Sam Johnson—grade 11, Boone County High School
• Kalie Kaimann—grade 12, Seton High School
• Victoria Shields—grade 11, Bray Music Studio/Lakota East High School

VISUAL ART

• Claire Bowman—grade 12, Walnut Hills High School
• Phoenix Brown—grade 12, School for Creative & Performing Arts
• Clair Hopper—grade 12, Ursuline Academy
• Jaye Johnson—grade 11, Wyoming High School

VOCAL MUSIC

• Mackenzie Jacquemin—grade 12, Wyoming High School
• Jake Kolesar—grade 12, Walnut Hills High School
• James Rootring—grade 11, Karl Resnik Studio/Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
• Logan Wagner—grade 11, Dixie Heights High School

2015 Arts educator award Finalists

Sarah Kim
Discipline: Instrumental Music
#Years working/teaching: 15
Nominated by Nina Fatuzzo

Karl Resnik, Musical Arts Center
Discipline: Vocal Music
#Years working/teaching: 43
Nominated by James Rootring

2015 Arts educator award honorable mention

Elena Kholodova, private teacher
Discipline: Vocal Music
#Years working/teaching: 10
Nominated by Mackenzie Jacquemin

Shawn Mlynek
Discipline: Vocal Music
#Years working/teaching: 7
Nominated by Benjamin Eglian

CLICK HERE to view the video nominations of the Arts Educator nominees listed above.