Hartt’s Got Talent 11th Annual Gala

 Each year, the entire Hartt community joins together at its annual gala to celebrate the performing arts and ensure Hartt's bright future.  This year's spectacular event, Hartt's Got Talent, will take place on Saturday, October 6, at the Hartford Marriott Downtown. 

This year's 11^th Annual Hartt Gala will honor Marie-Claire and Jean-Pierre van Rooy for philanthropy at the highest level, catalytic leadership in the arts, and distinguished community service.

Presenting sponsors for Hartt's Got Talent are Saint Francis Care and The Rhoda and David Chase Family Foundation.  Hoffman Audi is a Gold Sponsor, and Silver Sponsors are Hartford Hospital and Webster Bank. 

The evening will feature a selection of dance and chamber music performances by Hartt students and faculty, in addition to fine dining and both live and silent auctions featuring exceptional items unique to Hartt.  Kevin Gray, Broadway luminary and Associate Professor of Hartt's Theatre Division, will serve as auctioneer four the live auction.

Funds raised from the Gala will be used to support Hartt School scholarships, tuition assistance, and educational programming.

For more information about the Hartt Gala or to learn about sponsorship or advertising opportunities, please Gala manager Monique Aduddell at 860-768-4806 or email harttgala@hartford.edu.

About Honorees Marie-Claire and Jean-Pierre van Rooy: 

The 11^th Annual Hartt Gala will honor Marie-Claire and Jean-Pierre van Rooy for philanthropy at the highest level, catalytic leadership in the arts, and distinguished community service.  The van Rooys have been longtime benefactors of the University of Hartford.  From 2001 to 2010 Marie-Claire served as a valued trustee of the Julius Hartt Foundation, Inc., continuing as an Honorary Trustee, while Jean-Pierre served as a University Regent from 2002-2011 and continues as a Life Regent and chair of the University's van Rooy Center for Complexity and Conflict Analysis.

From 2000 to 2009, the couple, who have been committed to promoting the reputation of The Hartt School, provided funding for the annual van Rooy Competition for Musical Excellence, which allowed undergraduate instrumental students to strive for artistic and technical excellence by competing for prizes.  The University of Hartford is also grateful to the van Rooys for their support and stewardship of many other projects at the University, including the Campaign for the Hartford Art School.

In the Greater Hartford community, Marie-Claire and Jean-Pierre have distinguished themselves and their family by their generosity to numerous nonprofit organizations including Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, the Malta House of Care, the New Britain Museum of American Art, Hill-Stead Museum, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, and The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.

Photo:

Marie-Claire and Jean-Pierre van Rooy