Combining tasty drinks plus supporting community outreach, Top Mixologist was a win-win for everyone. The first of a new annual event, the fundraiser brought in over $10,000 for the Academy’s Community Outreach Initiative. Top Mixologist was a Willy Wonka themed event showcasing five local bartenders as they mix candy-themed cocktails. Guests were able to sample each drink and vote on their favorite. The winner was Sasha Cash from RA Bistro, the only female bartender to compete. “I was thrilled to be able to compete beside amazing bartenders who have been in the game years beyond my own experience,” Sasha Cash said. “That aspect along with being the only female motivated and challenged me. The guys definitely knew what they were doing and there is a lot I could learn from all of them. It was humbling and exciting to have won.” Cash especially enjoyed not just interacting with a crowd, but getting to dress up like an Oompa Loompa. “The crowd was so fun and had so much energy,” Cash said. “I was definitely feeding off their energy and reactions and it was all around just a good time for a great cause.” For other aspiring bartenders out there, Cash says, […]
Archives for May 2016
Interns Making a Difference
The Academy Center of the Arts would like to thank our spring 2016 intern class. They were great to work with and helped us serve our community through arts and culture. If you wish to hear about future internship opportunities, please contact Evan Smith, Director of Community Outreach at 434-528-3556 x114.
Playing a New Tune
With help from the area’s schools and colleges, the Academy Center of the Arts is bringing music to the streets of Lynchburg. As part of the Academy Center’s Community Outreach Initiative, the Hill City Keys program (formerly Keys for the Hill City) is entering its third year with nine pianos designed by the students of nine schools. The pianos will stick around downtown Lynchburg until the end of October. The idea of placing lavishly painted pianos around city streets started in London and has spread to cities around the world and the United States. Libby Fitzgerald, who started Hill City Keys, came across the vividly adorned pianos when visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania. “In Lancaster, the pianos were all painted by professional artists but when I returned to Lynchburg, I got the idea of using high school students to do ours,” Fitzgerald said. “My thought was that giving them an opportunity to make a civic contribution and to create school pride and for their school communities to be able to get involved would be such a positive thing. And it has proven to be.” Starting this year, Libby Fitzgerald also started reaching out to middle schools in addition to high schools and […]
