Once again, the Baltimore School for the Arts annual Expressions Gala proved to be well-named. As always, the evening was about expressing oneself – whether one was a student there or one of the 350 grown-up attendees. That concept started with guests, who could demonstrate their own creativity in their attire, which ranged from creative casual to cocktail. Guest Allyson Jishi chose the latter, in a creation by one of BSA’s famous alumni, designer Christian Siriano.“It’s my favorite piece in my entire closet,” she said. Current BSA students expressed themselves both in artwork displayed in several galleries, as well as in the evening’s program of performances onstage.
The party – which also celebrated the school’s 45th year — concluded with “classes” guests could attend led by BSA teachers and students, and a karaoke after-party.
The gala and two Expressions performances on other days drew in some 1400 attendees total and raised some $750,000 for the school.
From left – Mo Jishi, M&T Bank executive vice president, Linda Weinberg, retired M&T Bank executive vice president/BSA board member, and Allyson Jishi, Toastique Annapolis owner, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)From left – Debra Eddy, retired M&T Bank multi-family mortgage banker, Barbara Simmons, M&T Bank banker, and Anita Hilson and Bob Hilson, parents of BSA 2013 alum Rachel Hilson, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)
From left – Roz Cauthen, Baltimore School for the Arts executive director, Sonya Santelises, Baltimore City Public Schools CEO, and Shanae Williams McLean, BSA board chair/BSA Class of 98 alum, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)Following the cocktail hour, guests assembled in the school’s theater to see student performances at the BSA Expressions ’25 Gala. (Sloane Brown)A highlight of Expressions is the student performances in the Baltimore School for the Arts theater. (Sloane Brown)
From left – Sheila Williams, retired Verizon maintenance administrator, and Debra Taylor, retired Whiting-Turner payroll team leader, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)Congressman Kweisi Mfume presented to BSA executive director Roz Cauthen a copy of a speech he made in Congress honoring the Baltimore School for the Arts at the Expressions ’25 Gala. (Sloane Brown)From left – Mary Ann Mears, artist, Sebastian Walker, Method Data CEO, Dr. Leana Wen, Washington Post columnist, and Robert Embry, Abell Foundation president, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)
From left – Faraz Daneshpour, software engineer, and Ed Lopez-Perez, The Wine Source cheesemonger, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)From left – Melisa Lindamood, Johns Hopkins University assistant vice president of federal strategy, and Kevin Lindamood, Health Care for the Homeless CEO, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)From left – Bart Kennedy, community liaison for US Sen. Van Hollen, David Morrison, retired federal employee, Ray Mitchener, Ruth Show co-owner, and Brian Comes, Ruth Shaw co-owner, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)
From left – Donald Thoms, public television/media executive, Ethan Scott, BSA student, and Ronald Scott, retired inventor, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)The party kicked off with a cocktail hour held in a couple of the school’s galleries at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions ’25 Gala. (Sloane Brown)From left – Gabe Ukwuoma, MedStar Health doctor of physical therapy, Lauren Edwards, Brown Capital Management chief of staff/BSA board member, Berna Taylor retired childcare center director, and Tim Taylor, The Cordish Companies regional project manager, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)
From left – Joe Anarino, longshoreman, Karin Lundquist, CohnReznick partner, Jessica Boyd, University of Maryland Medical Center Infinite Legacy organ and tissue donating coordinator, and Eric Davis, federal employee/manager, at the Baltimore School for the Arts Expressions Gala. (Sloane Brown)
Friday, Mar. 21Black Tie & Tails: Hollywood GlamBenefits Baltimore Humane SocietyThe Grand Lodge, 304 International Circle, Hunt Valley6:30 – 10:30 p.m.Tickets $175e.givesmart.com/events/Hfq/?isOrderFormActive=true
