Notes from the Piano Bench Washington International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC)

Established 2001August 25 D DECEMBER 2015 Volume X Holiday Edition * No. 9

In This Issue

Holiday 2015 by the lake

* Message from The Chairman of the Board

From the President

Christmas in Slovakia

Highlights and scenes

Greetings for a happy birthday

JEAN WIGHAM

ERIK SUNDQUIST

ED RYAN

CELIA HOKE

AND

G. AUSTIN HAY

100YRS

on

CHRISTMAS DAY!

WELCOME to the Wonderful World of Music

Absolutely Beautiful! ---Posted on facebook by Chrisellene

Message from the Chair ………………………………

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy 2016!

Heartfelt thanks to WIPAC Honorary, Board members, its

diplomatic, artistic and advisory councils, patrons,

donors, contributors, supporters, committees, competitors, pianists

and volunteers for all that they do, make, work on, assist and

facilitate to our yearly activities and events. John and I are very

blessed to be surrounded by generous and dedicated members and

supporters. Hats off to all! Chateau Gardecki, WIPAC Board Chair and Founder

WIPAC QUOTE

“Music gives a soul to

the universe…

Wings to the mind,

Flight to the

imagination and

Life to everything.”

Plato

Category of Links

WWW.WIPAC.ORG

Calendar of Events Call 703 728-7766

Notes as a Rose

Radio Classique

2015

Kosciuszko

Foundation Center

2025 O Street NW

Washington, DC

From the President

Dear friends of WIPAC, I want to wish all our WIPAC friends and supporters a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Many of you observed Hanukkah and I hope the holiday was celebrated in the spirit and the meaning of this age old tradition. The page of the calendar is now turning to January. It is time for new horizons for WIPAC. We are blessed with many attributes: a good board, a wonderful membership, good sponsors and hardworking committees. 2016 promises to be again, an exciting year. I am so pleased to announce that many wonderful events are underway. You will receive notices and invitations to attend these events. So mark your calendars and see, what we have in store for you. As always, I would like to show my appreciation for Chateau and John Gardecki, our founders and congratulate them on their successful year of 2015. Also, a big thank you goes to our board, committees and supporters. I am looking forward to another great year, inspired by wonderful music by WIPAC.

Warm regards, Clayton Eisinger

President

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sharing a wonderful letter about WIPAC event

Dear Chateau, Dec. 12, 2015

Last night’s concert was simply lovely.

Michele Fowlin was a treat to hear, both when she sang and when she spoke. Her

velvet tones soared and whispered as her heart lead her delivery. Mr. Glover is a

musical treat in his own right, but also I enjoyed watching him watch her for his

every cue. :) Being in such an intimate venue made me aware of so much more

than otherwise I would have been.

I enjoyed being in an embassy that otherwise I’d not be in, seeing new people, as

well as my friend, Al Pierce, trying new foods - in all, very gracious and fun.

Thank you for letting me partially relive in this email my memorable experience!

I’m so glad that Jan asked me to attend!

May this day find you resting with a

smile on your face from your so-

successful evening!

Sincerely,

Sue

Suzanne S. Gartner

Special

Acknowledgement

Matching Grant Donors Reinsch-Pierce Family

Foundation Richard Lounsbery

Foundation De Leon-Khanna

Foundation

Donors and Patrons

Mr. & Mrs. Rand Allen Harriet Becker Diane Bohn

Mr. & Mrs. Ben Cox Michael & Portia Davidson Susanne & Clayton Eisinger Dr. & Mrs. Leslie H. Fenton

G. Austin Hay Lloyd & Valerie Huff

Tehmina Khan Angeles de Leon Khanna

Susan Lehrman Mr. & Mrs. C Braxton

Moncure Robin Phillips

Jacqueline Ohrstrom Lola C. Reinsch

Mr. Charles Silverman Dr. Joyce Hagel-Silverman

Jean Wigham

WIPAC DIPLOMATIC Friends

H.E. the Ambassador of Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova

H.E. Francois Delattre, the Ambassador of France to

the UN

H.E. the Ambassador of the Philippines

Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Mrs. Vicky Cuisia

H.E. the Ambassador of Portugal Nuno Brito and

Mrs. Rosa Batoreu

Link to a Web page

www.wipac.org

The 2015 Festival of

Music and The 13th

Washington

International Piano

Washington 12/11/15: What a lovely evening we had at the Slovak Embassy!!!

WIPAC extends sincere gratitude to H.E. the Ambassador Peter Kmec and Mrs. Monika Kmec for opening the embassy and welcoming us back after 7 years. Same goes to Dagmar Timurova, the Cultural Attaché, who tirelessly worked and planned the party with Chateau since last summer, To the chef, who did a mouthwatering traditional goulash dinner with apple strudel for dessert. Just divine! Thank You!

Our party began with champagne cocktails, a musical program followed by a dinner buffet. With Portia’s assistance, Lyric soprano Michelle Fowlin was presented to render a selection of classic holiday songs and wow! she brought the house down! Incredible!

Embassy of Slovak Republic The Music and Art Exhibition Hall <<Jean ---Chateau and Dagmar>

The scenes at the fabulous evening "CHRISTMAS IN SLOVAKIA" at the SLOVAK Embassy to celebrate the holiday season. Guests were treated to a Cocktail Reception, Musical Performance of popular holiday Selection and delicious traditional Slovak buffet dinner. There were 5 celebrants among the guests led by Austin Hay who will celebrate 100 years on December 25, 2015.

H.E. Ambassador Peter

Kmec with Chateau

Gardecki, Susie and Clayton

Eisinger

Below right are lovely

ladies, Erna Radifera, Leila

Beale and Monika Kmec

thr+11

Competition is

presented

In cooperation with

the George

Washington

University music

department, the

Kosciuszko

Foundation, the

Embassy of Bulgaria

and The Mexican

Cultural Institute

♪♪♪

Special Guests and

Patrons

Lola C. Reinsch

J Almont Pierce

Ms. Robin Phillips

Friends Leeda and Rand Allen

Harriet Becker

Mike & Portia Davidson

Lloyd and Valerie Huff

Diane Merriam

Judith Ramage

Wei Ling Wang

Washington

International Piano

Arts Council Diplomatic Council

H.E., the Ambassador of

Bulgaria Elena Poptodorova

and Mr. Georgi Petrov

H.E., the Ambassador of the

Philippines and Mrs. Jose L.

Cuisia, Jr.

H.E. the Ambassador of

Portugal Nuno Brito and Mrs.

Rosa Batoreu

Honorary Board

Leeda and Rand Allen

The Honorable & Mrs. Robert

Blackwell

Dr. & Mrs. Leslie H. Fenton

G. Austin Hay

Tehmina Khan

Maria Carmen and Peter

Mermagen

J. Almont Pierce

Lola C. Reinsch

Carol Rudman

Dr. .Joyce Hagel-Silverman

Executive Board

Chateau Gardecki,

Chair and Founder

HIGHLIGHTS OF “CHRISTMAS IN SLOVAKIA” Mrs. Kmec, Chateau Gardecki, Michelle Fowlin & Ambassador Kmec

Katarina Ryan, Susan Byrne, Frances Berkman, Robin Phillips & Sue K Eisenberg

John Gardecki & Frances Berkman *Bruce Neal, Bob Matulka & Darlene Lebedev

Champagne and Slovak “Medovina” went well with this chocolate birthday cake! Celebrants were Mary Hood, Jean Wigham, Edward Ryan, Erik Sundquist, Karl Woelflein and the Centenarian G. Austin Hay on December 25.

Clayton Eisinger, President

Nicole d’Amecourt,

Vice President

Jean Wigham, Treasurer

Portia Davidson, Secretary

Chief Financial Officer John Gardecki

Board Members

Harriet Becker

Ma. Salve Bernabe

Jeanne Blackwell

Susanne Eisinger

Zelmira B. Nedelcovic

Diane Merriam

Robin Phillips

Judith Ramage

Parliamentarian

Michael Davidson, Esq.

Diplomatic Liaison

Rhoda Septilici

Artistic Advisory Board

Jerome Barry, Frederic Chiu

John Gardecki, Eric Himy

Stuart Isacoff

Raymond Jackson

Tzvetan Konstantinov

Contact: WIPAC

3862 Farrcroft Drive

FAIRFAX, VA 22030

Use PayPal link

For all donations

www.wipac.org

Gift Giving Form

Available at

www.wipac.org

♪♪♪

WIPAC

NEW MEMBERS

H.E. the Ambassador of Fiji Winston Thompson

and Mrs. Queenie Thompson

Amb. & Mrs. Paul Hartman

Jan Anderson Kazuko Bach Malia Baduw

Elaine Bainbridge

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

January 1st – Greetings all

February 22 – Prelude to Spring Reserved - $65

March 2-5 Concert and Exhibit TBA

March 19 – Spring Piano Concert Series Part I - $25

April 14 – Winners Grand Prix Concert - $ 75

April 16 – Spring Piano Concert Series Part II- $25

April 24 – Middleburg Steeplechase Races – ($20)

May – Derby Day TBA - $45

June - Reserved

July – August – Reserved for POLO Saturday Nights ($20)

July 27-31 – Festival of Music and 14th WIPAC

Piano competition- $150

Please renew your Membership and subscribe to the events early as most

events can be sold out soon!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NAME: ________________________ Email: ____________________ ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________ MEMBERHIP RENEWAL ($50)_______ 1 yr ($75) _____ 2 yrs Includes SPRING CONCERT PIANO SERIES and Invitations to all other events

Subscription to all above events without membership is $375 includes Awards Dinner following the Final Round of the piano competition,

www.wipac.org ***************************************

HAPPY 2016!!! Words to Live by for the coming New Year!

Caroline Baker Bari Berger Diane Bohn

Patricia Chapell Craig & Eva Coleman

Gabriela Coman Jennifer Coombs

John Curd Joseph David

Lisa Dickelman Salvatrice DeLuca

Marlies Diehl Pernille Elbech

Nick & Patti Gardecki Luz & Jack Gregory

Shelly Harlow Tehmina Kahn

Ioanna and Paul Lee Barbara & Warren

Lewis Hal Matson

Camilla McCaslin Jesse Morrow

Jan Phillips Eva Salmoiraghi

Wayne & Linda Sharp Sheila & Tom Switzer

Lynn Theismann Pauline Thompson

Mr & Mrs Lars Thunell Eberhard & Veronika

von Loehneysen

Contact: WIPAC

3862 Farrcroft Drive

FAIRFAX, VA 22030

Use PayPal link

For all donations

www.wipac.org

Gift Giving Form

Available at

www.wipac.org

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