The Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Provides Hill-Stead with $18,000 Grant for its Performing Arts Programming
L’Affaire Musicale Returns to Hill-Stead this Fall
Hill-Stead Museum’s L’Affaire Musicale returns to the historic Drawing Room on Friday, November 12. Ballard Chamber Collective will perform in this much-anticipated live concert, made possible by an $18,000 gift from The Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Hill-Stead is immensely grateful to the Garmany Fund for this generous support, which underwrites the Museum’s robust year-round calendar of musical performances, including this upcoming Musicale with classical selections from some of the world’s most celebrated composers.
According to David Polk, advisor for the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, “Hill-Stead Museum is one of the region’s most treasured and timeless resources. It deserves the support and appreciation of all of us in the greater Hartford community for its art, architecture, accessibility, beauty, history and health & wellness benefits. The Garmany Fund is proud to be a contributor in Hill-Stead’s ongoing success as it embarks on the new chapter.”
This upcoming L’Affaire Musicale will take place among some of the finest pieces in the museum’s collection, including works by Monet, Manet and Degas. This intimate and transporting setting is ideal for the appreciation of music. Furthermore, the performing arts illuminate the fine and decorative arts of the room, creating a stimulating dialogue between various times periods, cultures and art forms. Past performances have featured classical and contemporary styles, including jazz, opera, Broadway and the Great American Songbook. Ballard Chamber Collective, a string trio composed of Jaroslaw Lis (violin), Ari Isaacman-Beck (viola) and Ignacy Gaydamovich (cello), will headline the 2021 performance and present Beethoven’s Serenade Op.8 and Schubert’s Trio in B Flat Major D581.
On the brink of its 75th anniversary as a museum, Hill-Stead continues to offer enriching experiences and is fortunate to be sustained by such incredible supporters as the Richard P. Garmany Fund. The Fund was the leading supportive force behind Hill-Stead’s From the Porch, the multicultural performing arts series, a community-building venture that attracts an extraordinary number of new voices to Hill-Stead. In its second season, these uplifting performances of music, dance, film, spoken word and most recently, famed dance troupe Pilobolus brought much-needed light and joy during dark days.
Dr. Anna Swinbourne says, “We are tremendously grateful to the Garmany Fund. Its enduring and leading support makes it possible for Hill-Stead to host unique programs, with topnotch musical performances in exceptional settings, both indoors and out.”
The generous donation will also champion the renowned Sunken Garden Poetry Festival, which celebrates its 30th season in 2022. This one-of-a-kind event celebrates Poets Laureate, Pulitzer Prize winners and prestigious award recipients. The community cherishes this annual series of readings and music performances on the grounds of this National Historic Landmark in the heart of Farmington, CT. This year’s three-day festival took place on September 10-12, 2021. It featured inspiring presenting poets Jenny Xie, Martín Espada and current Connecticut Poet Laureate Margaret Gibson.
With the completion of its new Carriage Barns renovation project, Hill-Stead now boasts a brand-new exhibition gallery and a new media space ideal for topical and thought-provoking year-round presentations to engage learners of all ages.
Hill-Stead is a member of the 
JaMara “Mara” Jean is a rising senior who currently attends The Westover School. Mara has been writing poetry since she was in the 5th grade. During some time in the 7th grade, Mara was handpicked by a teacher to write, memorize, and perform at a Slam Poetry Show. When she began high school, she took part in her first production ever, Much Ado About Nothing. Since then, she’s acted in seven productions at her school and is currently the First Drama Head. She can thank her theatrical knowledge and ability to the many productions she has been in thus far and her poetic ability to both her teacher in 7th grade who encouraged her to write slam poetry and Thomas Juvan, who taught her everything she has learned about poetry at Westover. 
Valli Pendyala is a sophomore at South Windsor High School. She is a member of her school’s mock trial and Model United Nations teams, and she is the president of the Sexuality and Gender Alliance. Valli is also a member of South Windsor Future Leaders in Politics. Over the summer, Valli plans to attend the National Student Leadership Conference Political Action & Public Policy program. Valli is passionate about participating in the political process and advocating for issues she is passionate about, both locally and nationally. In her spare time, Valli enjoys reading, spending time with her sister, and learning about history. She is currently working for her Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts, and has previously earned her Silver Award. Valli plans to major in political science and economics.
Cindy Truong is a senior at Platt High School in Meriden and the Educational Center for the Arts, where she studies creative writing. She will be attending New York University this upcoming fall and plans to major in English. Cindy finds inspiration in her Vietnamese heritage and culture along with her Vietnamese-American experience. She’d like to give her biggest gratitude to her teachers and workshop at ECA, for being the place that nurtured her and allowed her to find her voice.
Hill-Stead Museum and Farmington Continuation Education join together to offer a unique summer camp experience for students, grades 2 through 8, from Farmington, Hartford, New Britain, and Plainville, August 2–13, weekdays from 8 am to 3 pm.
