by guest contributor Joe David
Photo credit: Patricia McDougall
“I am honored to be one of the WIPAC’s Co-Chairs for this year’s 14th annual gala,” H.E. Jose L. Cuisia Jr, The Ambassador of the Philippines, said at An Evening of Culture and Music of the Americas. “It is my hope that WIPAC remains committed to promoting cultural understanding by inspiring professional and non-professional artists to share their talents with audiences in all walks of life. The citizens of my country have a special love for music, and I hope that one day soon WIPAC will expand its talent search to Manila.”
The spectacular grand ballroom, the Hall of the Americas at the Organization of American States (OAS), filled with music and talent when the Washington International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC) hosted its annual gala fundraiser. Over 140 WIPAC members and their friends attended the black tie dinner-dance and enjoyed a glittering night of music, dance, and entertainment.
Morenda Bolivian Dancer Photo credit: Joe David
This year’s gala was held in cooperation with the OAS Credit Union under the gracious patronage of H.E. Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and H.E. Jose L. Cuisia Jr, the Ambassador of the Philippines and Madame Vicky Cuisia. The evening dinner-dance was a benefit for the Festival of Music and the Washington International Piano Artists Competition.
Thomas Pandolfi, an American pianist and Juilliard School graduate, brightened the evening with his musical selections, which included George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto (piano solo), and Fryderyk Chopin’s Etude in C Minor (Opus 10, number 12). Pandolfi’s extraordinary musical virtuosity has been enjoyed in countries around the world where he has had an opportunity to perform to distinguished crowds. His musical presentation was followed by the Morenada Bolivian Dancers who magically transformed the ballroom into a colorful extravaganza of costume and music, which had the entire audience rising to their feet in dance and movement.
Sheila Switzer, Gala Committee member; Chateau Gardecki, President/founder WIPAC; Carlos Calderon, Gala Committee Chair/OAS; and Shahin Mafi, former WIPAC Gala Committee Chair and Founder/Trustee, Azar Foundation Children of the World
Chateau Gardecki, WIPAC’s Board Chair and Founder, extended her “sincere thanks to H.E. Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, and Honorary Chair of this year’s gala, for his gracious hospitality. Without his support, this beautiful evening of music and dance would never have occurred in such a splendid setting as the OAS. Also, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the Gala Co-Chair, H.E. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., the Ambassador of the Philippines, for his assistance in presenting this cultural program. Equally, my many thanks to the Honorary Host Committee, Their Excellences, the Ambassadors of Barbados, Bulgaria, and Paraguay for their support and special participation.”
The fundraiser was WIPAC’s most important annual event. The money collected will be used to benefit the Festival of Music and The Washington International Piano Competition for talented amateur pianists from around the world.
Her Excellency Elena Borislavova Poptodorova Petrova; WIPAC Honorary Board member, Tehmna Khan; George Petrova, spouse of Ambassador Petrova, Regina and Martin Donnelly
A silent auction, moderated with great enthusiasm by Portia Davidson, included many tempting items, including an invitation to welcome 20 Guests for “Tea in the Afternoon’ with H.E. Elena Borislavova Poptodorova Petrova, the Ambassador of Bulgaria, at her residence. Another noteworthy auction item was a “surprise” basket from Madame Leila Beale, wife of H.E., the Ambassador of Barbados, John Beale. For the patrons, the gala committee gave away a little “spirit” to take home so that they could enjoy later “A Taste of Rum from the Island of Barbados.”
In a personal note of regret to Chateau Gardecki, H.E., the former Ambassador of Iceland, Helgi and Madame Heba Augustsson wrote: “Although we cannot be with you again for the WIPAC Gala this year, we will raise our glasses in a toast to you on Friday night. We have always had such a wonderful time with you and having you as friends was very valuable and dear to us. I wish we could dance with you at the Gala once more!”
Shahin Mafi
Among the many distinguished guests present for the night of music and dance were: Deputy Chief of Mission Patrick Chuasoto, Embassy of the Philippines; H.E., Embassy of Bulgaria, Elena Poptodorova and Georgi Petrov; H.E., Ambassador of Barbados wife, Madame Leila Beale; H.E. Hubert and Sylvia Charles, Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Dominica; humanitarian, peace activist and philanthropist, Shahin Mafi, former WIPAC Gala Committee Member and Founder/Trustee of Azar Foundation Children of the World; and Washington Socialite, and International Hostess Tehmina Khan, founder/owner of the McLean Furniture Gallery and WIPAC’s honorary member. The major sponsors included: OAS Credit Union, Clayton and Susie Eisinger, Rand and Leeda Allen, Lola Reinsch, Al Pierce, and Robin Phillips. A door prize, a round-trip to Argentina, was won by WIPAC’s most respected Board member, Nicole D’Amecourt.
A certificate of appreciation was given to Michael Davidson for chairing the jury for 6 years and a special acknowledgement went to Carlos Calderon and Maria Zelmira Branganza Nedelcovic for their support and cooperation at assisting with making this gala at OAS so special this year.
Chateau (Bibi) Gardecki, WIPAC board chair and founder and John Gardecki, classical pianist and CFO of WIPAC
Washington International Piano Arts Council (WIPAC) was established in 2001 to promote international friendship and mutual understanding among nations. WIPAC presents piano concerts in Washington, DC, area yearly featuring talented pianists in cooperation with universities, museums and embassies. Its goal is to create a renaissance of interest in the art of piano artistry, and to provide venues worldwide where classical music can flourish.
Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization. When the OAS was established in 1948, it vowed to support peace and justice, solidarity and strengthen and defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of its member states. Today the OAS brings together all 35 independent states of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere. The Organization uses a four-pronged approach to effectively implement its essential purposes. They are: democracy, human rights, security, and development.
