Dr. and Mrs. Rothmann, have dedicated more than 50 years to promoting musical arts in our community.  They have supported financially and with their time and talents the Akron Symphony Orchestra, Tuesday Musical, Children's Concert Society, Blossom Music Center, Cleveland Institute of Music and the Music at Stan Hywet program.  The Rothmanns have opened their home for countless concerts by visiting artists and created the popular Music from the Western Reserve concert series at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, now in its fourth season.

Professor Mark Soppeland, who this year was bestowed with the title of Distinguished Professor - the highest academic honor -- by the University of Akron, will be recognized for his achievements as an educator and artist.  Professor Soppeland is an internationally known teaching artist.  A painter, sculptor and designer, he has shown his work in more than 300 exhibitions on four continents and has taught University of Akron art students for 28 years.  Much of his work is collaborative and includes several public art projects; familiar and comforting to area residents are the "Flying Llamas" (as they are affectionately known) outside the gift shop at Akron Children's Hospital.

Tickets for Arts Alive! 2005 are $125.  To receive an invitation, contact the Akron Area Arts Alliance at 330-376-8480 or info@akronareaarts.org.

This is the Akron Area Arts Alliance's third Arts Alive! benefit gala and awards ceremony. The first, in 2001, honored such award recipients as sculptor Don Drumm and pianist Margaret Baxtresser.  In 2003, award winners included Dolores Parker Morgan, painter Craig Lucas, and Ann and David Brennan.

The Akron Area Arts Alliance was founded in 1991 by Ann Amer Brennan and Mary Ann Jackson to foster cooperation among arts and cultural groups in the greater Akron area of Summit, Portage, and Medina counties. The membership has grown to include 41 area museums, theaters, performing and visual arts groups, educational arts programs, and 58 individual artists and arts supporters.

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