GAAC KICKS OFF SEASON WITH A RED CARPET AFFAIR

BY BRUCE BRANUM

The Greenville Standard

 

The Greenville Area Arts Council (GAAC) kicked of the 2024-2025 concert season with a ‘Red Carpet Gala’ this past Thursday evening, Oct. 10, with a street party, concert by The Black Jacket Symphony and special appearance by Vince Womack.

As has been tradition of the opening the concert season, a street party was held in front of the Ritz Theater in Greenville with libations and tasty delights.

Before the concert, Greenville native Vince Womack was honored with two proclamations by the City of Greenville.

The first was to declare Oct. 10 Vince Womack Day for the Fulfillment Fund Outstanding Teacher Award, the Bogart/USC Family of Five Teacher Award, the Los Angeles Music Center’s Bravo Award, the prestigious Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Award and an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film.

The second was in honor of his Oscar received earlier this year for his part in the documentary short film “The Last Repair Shop”.

The documentary shed light on the importance of music in every school and motivating a generation of storytellers and the vision to share how over 80,000 instruments were repaired for students in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon presented the proclamations to Womack prior to The Black Jacket Symphony performing Madman Across the Water by Elton John for the first set and his greatest hits during the second set.

GAAC director Nancy Idland stated her appreciation for all the benefactors, attendees, and volunteers who helped make the opening night a success.