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Teacher Anne Dempsey honored for her service

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A Toast to the Arts, the annual fundraiser of Darlington Arts Center held on April 26, provided the launching pad for the organization’s 40th Anniversary celebration. Raffles, a wine pull, enticing silent auction items, accompanied with tasty hors d’oeuvres, in addition to a salsa lesson and music by Brandywine Jazz and R&B, made for a memorable evening, indeed a true toast to the arts.

“We are thrilled by the large turnout and wonderful enthusiasm during the evening,” says Darlington Executive Director Eric Carter-Thompson. “This provides a boost of energy and important momentum for launching our 40th Anniversary of providing arts to the community and serving as gateway to developing skills and talents in music, art, dance, and drama.”

The event was highlighted by Garnet Valley High School students vocal performances and electric piano accompaniment during Bohemian Rhapsody that held the crowd in awe as did the mother daughter violin duet of DAC Teaching Artist Lingchin Liao with daughter and Garnet Valley High School student Mae Hacker in their rendition of “Präludium” by Shostakovich. This was a musical tribute to Anne Dempsey of Media, honored with the Teaching Excellence Award during the evening. Dempsey is a Darlington Teaching Artist at Darlington. As a member of the Fine Arts Faculty for 25 years, she has provided inspiration and encouragement to students in paint, clay, and mixed media instruction.

Darlington Arts Center is a non-profit community arts center with classes, lessons and workshops in music, art, dance, and drama for all ages serving over 4,000 residents annually. Darlington hosts monthly art exhibitions, recitals, and master classes in addition to professional Gallery Exhibitions, Coffee House Concerts, and outreach programs. It is convenient to Delaware, Chester and New Castle counties located at 977 Shavertown Road, Garnet Valley, less than a mile east of Route 202, just south of Route 1, and 1¼ miles from the Delaware state line. For more information, please visit www.darlingtonarts.org or call 610-358-3632.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Garnet Valley High School student Aya Geary singing during event. Darlington Board of Trustees President Ann Anthony and Eric Carter-Thompson with Teaching Excellence Award recipient Anne Dempsey, at center.

Garnet Valley High School student Mae Hacker performs a violin duet with her mother Lingchin Liao.

Garnet Valley High School student Lauren Jones on electric piano during performance of Bohemian Rhapsody.