Gala 2024

Thank you to our Gala 2024, sponsors, attendees and donors to the Fine & Performing Arts at LFA. We had an ART-rageous evening!

The Gala 2024 video features LFA alumni, students and faculty who share in their own words what Fine & Performing Arts and arts education means to them.
Gifts to the Gala 2024 project are still being accepted.

Make a gift to benefit the student experience in Fine & Performing Arts at LFA

Thank You to Our Gala 2024 Sponsors and Patrons!

LFA Artist-in-Residence – Premier Experience

Kun Lee & Sooji Oh P’26

Charlie & Jackie Pick P’26, ’26

Patron of the Arts

Dr. Jonathan S. Erulkar & Mrs. Deirdre Carroll Erulkar, P’25 & Family

David & Andrea Goldman P’25

Hon. Terry Hall, Ferry Hall Class of 1967

Backstage Technology Sponsor

Molly Jane (Pearson) Campbell ’04, RN, BSN, Ph.D.

Trustee Katie & Matt Frekko P’21, ’24, ’27

The Stremi Family P’26

Dr. Timothy King & Dr. Christine Tock P’24

Community pARTner

Dr. Matthew ’94 & Rebecca Barker ’94, P’27
Lukasz & Anna Michalczyk ’02 Borla
The Duchovny Family P’26

Martin & Ayesha Ewing P’26, ’27
Gerard & Lisa Martin P’25
Jason & Kara Schmitz P’28

Naxin Zhou & Wei Su P’26
Christine Wang & Daniel Sun P’24
Alan Nugent & Krista Tartoni P’26

Imagine with Us...

Message from Our Gala Co-Chairs

co-sponsor rosen family photo with nature scene in background

We are proud to serve as the parent co-chairs of Lake Forest Academy’s Gala 2024 - The Art of the Imaginable, alongside alumni co-chair Trustee Suzanne Isenberg ’83.

At LFA, each year’s Gala project leaves an indelible mark on the fabric of our campus community. In the last two years, Gala projects have supported and strengthened "the mind" and "the body" at LFA, with the new Health Center and the Athletic Center Expansion. This year, we aim to support "the soul" of our community by enhancing the school's Fine and Performing Arts programs. Each student at LFA is touched by the arts, whether exploring a new creative endeavor in an elective or honing long-rehearsed skills in a stage production, the orchestra or the choir.

Imagine with us… and join us in supporting our arts faculty in this exciting project that underscores the Academy’s commitment to fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence that prepares students for their college and professional careers.

Leslie & Stu Rosen P’25, ’25, ’27, ’27
Julie Brandt & Timothy Lange P’25

It fills me with immense pride to stand as the alumni co-chair for Lake Forest Academy's Gala 2024 - The Art of the Imaginable, alongside our esteemed parent co-chairs, Julie Brandt & Timothy Lange P’25 and Leslie & Stu Rosen P’25, ’25, ’27, ’27. Together, we are embarking on a journey to celebrate and support arts education at Lake Forest Academy.

As alumni, we cherish the memories of how the arts enriched our LFA experience. Whether it was strumming chords on a guitar, expressing ourselves on canvas, or cheering on our classmates from the audience, the arts left an indelible mark on each of us, from novices to seasoned artists.

Drawing from my experiences in higher education, I can attest to the invaluable role of creative thinking and problem-solving cultivated through foundational arts courses. These skills transcend disciplines, proving essential in fields ranging from the sciences and engineering to medicine and the liberal arts.

Imagine with us... and join me in envisioning a future where our support empowers LFA's arts faculty and students. Together, fellow alumni, let's champion this initiative, reaffirming the Academy's dedication to nurturing a culture of creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence. Through our collective efforts, we equip our students with the tools they need to thrive in both their collegiate pursuits and professional endeavors.

Trustee Suzanne Isenberg ’83

Schedule
6 p.m. – Registration & Cocktail Reception
The Cressey Center for the Arts
7 p.m. – Dinner, Student Entertainment & Paddle Raise
JC Cowart Student Center

Gala Co-Chairs
Leslie & Stu Rosen P’25, ’25, ’27, ’27
Julie Brandt & Timothy Lange P’25
Trustee Suzanne Isenberg ’83

Suggested Attire:
“Gallery Glam”
Evening cocktail attire with an artistic flair
Complimentary Valet Parking

Questions about how to support Gala 2024 from afar? Contact Senior Director of Family Philanthropy and Engagement, Leigh Ann Jacobson P’13, ’23

Donate

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Gala 2024 Donation Form

"The art of the imaginable" is not just a project; it’s the Academy’s commitment to fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence that helps students in their college and professional careers. Thank you for joining us in shaping the future of arts education for the talented students who call our Academy home.

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Testimonials

music teacher Tim Plambeck giving an introduction at a winter concert

Tim Plambeck P’21, ’23

Bio about Tim Plambeck P’21, ’23

I love teaching at the Academy because it has given me the chance to impact the lives of students through performing experiences and to help them develop a love of the arts for their future selves. In particular, performances of major works and collaborations with professionals have been transformative for both myself and our students. The Gala 2024 project allows us to further enhance our program, raising the level of our day-to-day work as well as performance opportunities. The personal development of LFA students is tied to the goal of them finding a place they feel comfortable and free to be themselves. Without question, we give our students the chance to learn and improve their artistic skills, but perhaps even more important is that students develop a love of the arts and find a place where they can be their most authentic selves.Timothy Plambeck P’21, ’23 Director of Music, Fine & Performing Arts Teacher

teacher Yue Chen working on a piece on a ceramics wheel

Jason Delane Lee ’90

Bio about Jason Delane Lee ’90

While I loved playing Caxy football and studying history, the most impactful classes for me were my theater courses taught by Mr. Mark Dryfoos. Foos! I’ve been a professional actor for almost 30 years now, performing on stages in NYC, LA, and Chicago. I view the art of performance as an act of service to and for the audience. The single act that gave me the confidence to proceed into the crazy business of the Show was Foos giving me the school’s McCormick Prize for Fine Arts my senior year. The confidence boost that gave me was essential, and I thank Foos to this day. When we experience all that life has to offer—good, bad, average or extraordinary—we always go to the Arts as an attempt to make it make sense; whether that be a poem, a song, a painting, a dance recital, a play/musical, a museum, a binge-worthy Netflix series, a brilliant glass of wine. The arts comfort us, entertain us, educate us and inform us of the world around us. That, for me, is the value of an Arts Education.Jason Delane Lee ’90 Actor, Producer; CEO, The Lagralane Group
LFA Hall of Fame (2021) for Achievement in the Arts

Yue Chen

Bio about Yue Chen

As a visual arts instructor I truly believe that every student is artistically creative and what I love most about teaching is inspiring this creativity. One of my most rewarding classroom experiences was a slip-casting project in Ceramics 2. Despite the challenges of this intricate process, the students bonded, supported each other, and proudly presented their finished work as a team, declaring 'WE are the best.' This collaborative spirit is a testament to the supportive environment we strive to create in our arts programs.
I am excited about Gala 2024. The funds raised will allow us to pilot projects that require more efficient workspace, design class sessions that allow for additional instruction time in the 45-minute class periods, and foster advanced students' independence in a professional studio setting.
Thank you in advance for your support of Gala 2024 and for helping me and my arts department colleagues continue to enrich the lives of LFA students. Yue ChenGlobal Department Chair, Fine & Performing Arts Teacher
A. John Huss Jr. ’58 and Ruth S. Huss Chair in Humanities

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Gala 2024?
At LFA’s annual Gala, members of the community gather, celebrate, and raise funds to support a project selected by the Board of Trustees to enhance the LFA experience. This year’s Gala initiative is a return to Lake Forest Academy’s practice of funding a project that will enhance instruction beginning in the fall. We invite you to support our students on their journey of self discovery and soulful expression through fine and performing arts education.

“Art of the Imaginable” is not just a project; it’s the Academy’s commitment to fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence that prepares students for their college and professional careers. We invite you to join us and contribute to shaping the future of arts education for the talented students who call our Academy home.

Q: What is the format of the evening?
This year's event will start in the Cressey Center for the Arts for cocktail hour from 6-7 p.m. and then will move to the JC Cowart Student Center for an immersive experience – celebrity emcee, Gala program, student entertainment, avant garde dinner, and paddle raise. At the paddle raise, the auctioneer will invite you to raise your paddle to support the Gala project. The auctioneer will recognize donations by calling out paddle numbers. Alternatively, you will have the opportunity to donate through a mobile app on your phone, which includes an anonymous feature as well.

Q: Who will be in attendance at the Gala?
Gala is an annual fundraising event that welcomes our LFA community at large – parents, alumni, grandparents, alumni parents, and friends – to celebrate with LFA faculty, staff, and trustees.

Q: What should I wear?
Gala 2024 attire is “Gallery Glam” – Evening cocktail attire you would wear to a gallery opening, museum benefit or anything with an artistic flair.

Q: Where do I register?
Registration for the event can be completed here.

Q: Where is Gala 2024 held?
Gala is held on the campus of Lake Forest Academy. This year’s event will feature a cocktail hour in The Cressey Center for the Arts, followed by dinner, program and paddle raise in the JC Cowart Student Center.
Campus Map

Q: Where do I park for the event?
LFA provides complimentary valet parking for this event in the parking lot of the Cressey Center for the Arts. You can feel free as well to self park in the Atlass, Crown, or Warner parking lots.

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