Guest Performers Announced for Celebration of the Arts in Howard County

The Howard County Arts Council is pleased to announce the guest performers for the 18th annual Celebration of the Arts in Howard County gala, presented by Howard Bank. Featured this year are: Hua Sha Chinese Dance Company, vocalist Carole Graham Lehan, and accompanist Ross Scott Rawlings. You can catch them, along with the nine finalists in the Arts Council’s Rising Star Competition, at the Celebration gala on March 28, 2015 at 8 p.m. Emcee for the event is Richard W. Story, Senior Vice President, Community Relations and Government Affairs, and Business Development Liaison for Howard Bank.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Hua Sha Chinese Dance Company is a non-profit organization founded by Chinese dance artist Ms. Xiao Fang Xu. Located in Columbia, its mission is to preserve and promote Chinese performing arts and culture as well as ensure that the Chinese communities retain connections to their cultural heritage.

Carole Graham Lehan is Performing Arts Director at Glenelg Country School and received the 2006 Howie Award for Outstanding Arts Educator. She has staged and scripted several plays for Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, is a former Young Columbian, and received three Helen Hayes Award nominations in the acting, directing, and playwriting categories.

Ross Scott Rawlings has more than eighteen years of Broadway touring production credits, including both national and international productions. In addition to being the Director of Vocal Music at Glenelg High School, he has performed and directed with Toby’s Dinner Theatre, Rep Stage, and Olney Theatre Center. He holds a BS in Music Education and Piano from Towson State University.

The Celebration is a multi-faceted signature event, showcasing and promoting the arts and raising funds for Howard County artists and arts organizations. In addition to the main stage performance, the evening also features a reception from 6-8 p.m. with a Silent Auction of work by local artists and culinary delicacies from area restaurants. Reception entertainment will be provided by pianist Dustin Merrell.

The Celebration will take place in Columbia at Howard Community College’s Peter and Elizabeth Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center. Information and tickets are available on the Celebration page of the Arts Council website at www.hocoarts.org or by phone at 410-313-2787.