Washington Performing Arts Society Gala
Celebrating the Expansion of the E.U.

Over 700 guests attended the May 8 Washington Performing Art’s Society’s (WPAS) Gala and Auction at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Tysons Corner to celebrate the expansion of the European Union. Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia joined the EU on May 1. The alliance between the WPAS and the European Union drew 28 ambassadors to the gala. Highlights included an elegant and tasty three-course dinner and performance by the Children of the Gospel Mass Choir. Auctioneer Bob Levey from the Washington Post garnered $9,500 for dinner for 20 at French Ambassador Jean David Levitte’s residence. The gala and auction raised a total of $750,000 to benefit the WPAS’ education and outreach programs.

Zimbabwean Amb. Rastislav Kacer and his wife, Otilia Kacerova with Belgian Amb. Franciskus van Daele and his wife, Chris

Gunter Burghard and Rita Byl-Burghard with Dace Rone, Cyprian Amb. Euripides Evriviades and Latvian Amb. Aivis Ronis

Swedish Amb. Jan Eliasson	Gary Lytle and Mike Oxley

British Amb. Sir David Manning and Lady Manning	Bob and Jane Levey

Doug Wheeler with Mary and James Nesbitt	Hungarian Amb. Andras Simonyi with his wife, Nada

Photos by Vicky Pombo