By STEPHEN HARD
Greater New Britain Arts Alliance Executive Director

The Greater New Britain Arts Alliance will hold its 12th annual meeting Thursday at Klingberg Family Centers’ Raymond Hill School, 370 Linwood St., New Britain. The event begins with a reception in the aquarium lobby of the school from 5 to 6 p.m.

At its meeting, to be held in the auditorium of the school beginning at 6 p.m., new members of  the GNBAA board of directors will be elected. Jeffrey Zabel, who recently returned to New Britain after living in North Carolina, is among the new directors. Zabel will bring to the board his interest in and knowledge about historic preservation. Establishing protections for New Britain’s historic architecture will be an important focus of the work of the Alliance in the coming year.

At the annual meeting the Arts Alliance will also recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the arts in our area.

William Hively, director of music at First Lutheran Church on Franklin Square, will be awarded the Individual Contribution to the Arts Award. Hively directs the adult and Sunday School choirs and the worship band at First Lutheran. He also directs the church’s Music Series that brings musical performances of great excellence to the wider community.

Hively’s activity, however, is not limited to his day job. He provides music lessons to young people as part of New Britain’s Parks and Recreation programming. Hively also sings with CONCORA and the New Britain and Hartford Chorales and has been on the boards of both CONCORA and the Music Series at South Church.

Long-time friend of Hively and artistic director of CONCORA Richard Coffey remarked: “I have never met a more selfless, caring and giving person, especially where the community and its performing arts are concerned. Bill really stands out in innumerable ways such as designing and implementing concert staging, chorus and orchestra placement, in arranging for, borrowing or renting of equipment and vehicles for its transportation. At every turn he himself engages in the labor in full measure, often calling for other volunteers but equally often undertaking immense enterprises on his own.”

The Special Recognition of an Arts Organization Award will be presented to the Art League of New Britain. The Art League was founded in 1928 by Sanford B. D. Low. Today, the Art League is an extraordinarily active institution with a full schedule of solo, group, juried, and member exhibitions. In 2008 the Art League quadrupled its class offerings and launched a performance-based series named the Hideout Series Performance Salon. In addition, the League maintains New Britain industrialist George Post’s 1870’s High Style Victorian Carriage House as the home for its programming.

The Arts Educator of the Year Award will be given to Sarah Koff Focarile, music teacher at Raymond Hill School, in recognition of her work with young people and families in need. With the arts as one of Klingberg’s foci, Focarile’s role is pivotal. According to Rosemarie Burton, president of Klingberg’s board of directors, “Sarah has a gift for discovering and nurturing talent in children who often first find their voice working with her. She creates opportunities for children with little or no self confidence to shine on stage and receive admiration from an audience.”

Focarile’s experience in community theater has helped her to prepare the children to perform not only for family, friends, and Klingberg staff, but for the community at large, enriching the audience members’  lives to see the possibilities of the young stars rather than their limitations.

“Sarah could be the poster child for the value of the arts for helping to develop young people especially those in need,” said Jill Fletcher, events coordinator at Klingberg.

“She puts in countless extra hours, and teaches private music lessons to help make ends meet. She deserves an opportunity to take a bow.”

Klingberg students will perform an excerpt from their latest production “Schoolhouse Rocks Live” as part of the annual meeting celebrations. The Plainville Choral Society will also perform.

The Hartford Advocate is the recipient of this year’s Special Recognition of a Business acknowledging its more than usual interest in the arts in both its reporting, events listings, and sponsorship of arts activities.

Finally, the Unsung Hero Award will be made to someone who has done an extraordinary amount of work for area arts organizations without compensation and who has been largely unrecognized. The name of the recipient of this award is kept secret and will be announced at the meeting.

The annual meeting of the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance is open to the public and all are welcome.

For more information about the meeting or the arts in greater New Britain, call (860) 832-8299, stop by the New Britain Downtown Visitors Center, or visit NewBritainArts.org.