Great Stages Gala Marian Anderson Celebration

Senator **Vincent Hughes**, Council President **Kenyatta Johnson**, Mayor **Cherelle Parker**, Marian Anderson’s niece **Ginette DePreist** (who was married to Anderson’s nephew, noted muscian **James DePreist**) and **Matias Tarnopolsky** president and CEO of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association at the dedication of the Marian Anderson Hall

The Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall was renamed Marian Anderson Hall at a re-dedication ceremony Saturday afternoon, which was declared Marian Anderson Day in the city and the commonwealth.

The announcement to change the name of the hall was made in February following a generous donation of $25 million to the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center Inc. by Leslie Anne Miller and her husband, Richard B. Worley, who are well-respected figures in the arts community. However, rather than retaining the naming rights, they decided to honor Anderson by renaming the hall after her.

In the evening the Great Stages Gala started with a black-tie donor reception on the Academy of Music stage at 6 PM prior to the 8 PM concert in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

This is the 2nd annual Great Stages Gala, a new celebration created last year which unites the traditions of the Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball with the Kimmel Cultural Campus Gala (now known as Ensemble Arts Philly ).

Marian’s great great niece **Isabella DePreist Sullivan** and great niece **Jennifer DePreist** (her father was **James DePreist**)

**Albert Zuger**, Alpha Zeta Metals and Sasha Suda, director and CEO of the Philadelphia Art Museum.

**Sharonda Robinson, LaFawn Davis, Sherise Bright** and **Vicki Baker**

The **Schaeffers, Katie, Adele and Tony**

**Barbara Adams, Michelle Wherry,** Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) and **Karen Bachelor,** DAR

**Steph Humphries, Dani Rose, Anne Ewers, Isabel Lowrey Brouhard** and **Nicole Smith**

**Brittany Webb** and **Mari Shaw,** who I just saw at the Wilma Theater the evening before on **opening night of Hilma.**

around 7:45pm, guests headed over to the newly named Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, accompanied by a drum line from Camden NJ.

**Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake** is president of the **Independence Blue Cross Foundation** standing in from of Marian Anderson outfits loaned to the Kimmel Center for the celebration.

The influence of the Philadelphia-born contralto Marian Anderson, an extraordinarily talented singer and one of America’s most exceptional artists, cannot be emphasized enough, particularly considering the profound impact racial discrimination had on her career. Despite her undeniable abilities, Anderson’s path was significantly affected by racial prejudice.

At 8:00 PM that evening, GRAMMY®, Emmy®, and Golden Globe® award–winning and Academy Award®–nominated artist, actor, and producer Queen Latifah hosted the Great Stages Concert honoring Marian Anderson. The celebration will be the first concert to take place in the newly named hall.

The evening featured performances by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra

with soprano Angel Blue, actress and singer Audra McDonald (not pictured here), soprano Latonia Moore, and jazz pianist Marcus Roberts.