The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame selected two new members to its Board and re-elected incumbent members for 2019-2020. The Arts Hall of Fame Board is comprised of 13 members with each term limited to two years. The 2019-2020 Board has unique backgrounds, with diverse experiences that make them all assets to the Board and the organization.
The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame Board Member appointments include incoming first-term members, Diane Handler and James Gibson.
“Having a diverse and robust board is very important to our success, and we are always excited to welcome the new members and strengthen our organization as a result,” said Susan S. Starrett, Arts Hall of Fame president and founding member.
The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame honors persons in the Fine Arts with 20 years in their profession and who have achieved national or international recognition. Nomination forms for the induction Class 2020 will be on www.foxvalleyarts.org. Nominations will be open September 1 through November 1.
• Diane Handler of St. Charles has been the director of marketing for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra since 2016; prior to that she was the director of art, a division of the performing arts at the University of Iowa for seven years. She has worked for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as media manager for three years. She is a lawyer who has worked in two law offices in the Fox Valley area for five years. She is an accomplished singer and performer of classical, jazz, and contemporary music. She is very involved in volunteering her time in numerous community arts projects in the St. Charles and Geneva areas.
• James Gibson of Sugar Grove has made a lifetime commitment to the arts and touched the lives of thousands of individuals in his 44-year career as a performing artist, in venues as diverse as the East Room of the White House to the main stages of Las Vegas, Nev.. He was a member of three Grammy award-winning bands and is one of the few performing artists to have won an Emmy Award, television’s highest award, as host of his show while becoming a member of a group that won a Grammy award, music’s highest honor. He has performed or has been host to more than 1,500 live televised special events, including the Miss USA, Miss Universe in Puerto Rico, Miss Globe in Turkey, and Miss America competitions. He has recorded five solo vocal albums. In addition to his many artistic accomplishments he established Big Talk Publishing Company.
The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame 2019 – 2020 Board officers and members at large include the following officers:
President, Susan S. Starrett, North Aurora; Secretary, Karen Pederson, Batavia/Aurora; Treasurer, Christine Simonson, Naperville; VP events- Murna Hansemann, Elgin; VP development, Kathy Matthews, St. Charles; VP selection, Susie Starrett, North Aurora; VP public relations/publicity, Jennifer Scavetta, Naperville; Asst public relations, Diane Handler, St. Charles.
— Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame