Soka Performing Arts Center Participates In South Coast Plaza, The Pavilion Of Holiday Trees

November 10, 2020
Renee Bodie standing next to Christmas tree
Photo by Mark Howlett

(Aliso Viejo, CA, November 4, 2020) – Soka Performing Arts Center is proud to be participating in an exciting new interactive fundraiser hosted by South Coast Plaza. South Coast Plaza ushers in the season of giving with the first annual Pavilion of Holiday Trees, a spectacular exhibit and auction Nov. 14- Dec. 4 featuring more than 30 one-of-a-kind trees decorated by Southern California, national and international nonprofit arts institutions.

The inspiration for Soka Performing Arts Center’s tree, “music is the universal language”, aligns with our mission to engage, educate, and elevate the human spirit. We accomplish this through thoughtful programming which is of the highest quality, culturally diverse, educational and relevant. We serve the students and faculty of SUA, and the entire Orange County community, offering a unique opportunity to experience live music like never before. Listen. Feel. Transform.

Prominent arts institutions participating in this charitable event include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory, The Colburn School, and more. American Friends of the Louvre (AFL), Lang Lang Musical Foundation (LLMF) and The American Dance Movement will showcase specially designed trees. The AFL tree will feature decorations inspired by the Mona Lisa and other works of art at The Louvre, while the LLMF ornaments will include signed piano keys.

Some tree ornaments will include valuable gifts such as VIP tickets, fine dining gift cards and complimentary subscriptions. The holiday trees will be on view for free to the public 11 a.m.-7 p.m. from Nov. 14 to Dec. 4 at The Pavilion, an open-air space at South Coast Plaza’s north parking structure. COVID-related safety measures will be observed at The Pavilion and throughout South Coast Plaza. Whether or not they attend in person, the public will have an opportunity to bid on the trees in a charity auction at SCPARTS.givesmart.com, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the corresponding organization. The trees will be delivered to the winners in time for holiday celebrations.

“The arts have the power to provide a respite and lift up people during challenging times,” said Debra Gunn Downing, spokeswoman for South Coast Plaza. “Now more than ever, arts organizations need our help as they cope with the profound impact of the pandemic. The Pavilion of Holiday Trees will be a joyful attraction that brings the community together for this important and timely cause.”

South Coast Plaza will also present three awards for outstanding design selected by a panel of judges: $2,500 for the third prize winner; $5,000 for the second prize winner and $10,000 for the grand prize winner. The winners will be announced on Dec. 4 in person at The Pavilion and on South Coast Plaza’s social media.

The Pavilion of Holiday Trees reflects South Coast Plaza’s longstanding tradition of arts philanthropy, including support for institutions such as Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Carnegie Hall, American Ballet Theatre, South Coast Repertory, Orange County Museum of Art, and more. The following organizations will decorate a holiday tree available for auction:

  1. American Dance Movement
  2. American Friends of the Louvre
  3. American Orange County Chinese Federation
  4. Ballet Pacifica
  5. Beverly Sills Chapter, The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts
  6. Boston Court Pasadena
  7. Bowers Museum
  8. The Center Docents, Segerstrom Center for the Arts 
  9. Center Stars Chapter, The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts
  10. Chance Theater
  11. Chinese American Museum
  12. Colburn School
  13. Deaf West Theatre
  14. East West Players
  15. Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
  16. Irvine Barclay Theatre
  17. La Jolla Playhouse
  18. Lang Lang International Music Foundation 
  19. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
  20. Luminario Ballet of Los Angeles
  21. Musco Center for the Arts
  22. Newport Beach Film Festival
  23. Orange County Museum of Art
  24. Orange County Music & Dance
  25. Orange County School of the Arts
  26. Pacific Chorale
  27. Pacific Symphony
  28. Pageant of the Masters/Festival of Arts
  29. Pas de Deux Chapter, The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts
  30. PBS SoCal
  31. Philharmonic Society of Orange County
  32. Segerstrom Center for the Arts
  33. Soka Performing Arts Center
  34. South Coast Repertory 
  35. Vietnamese-American Arts & Letters Association

The Pavilion of Trees is produced by South Coast Plaza with Baruch/Gayton Productions.

Social Media:
Follow Soka Performing Arts Center at @sokapac #sokapac
Follow South Coast Plaza at @southcoastplaza, #southcoastplaza #southcoastplazaarts

CONTACT: Debra Gunn Downing
liddanel@southcoastplaza.com | 714.435.2051

 

About Soka Performing Arts Center
Now is in its ninth season of presenting the best of live performances on its extraordinary stage, Soka Performing Arts Center, located on the campus of Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo, California, is under the new leadership of General Manager Renee Bodie. The 1,000-seat concert hall features world-class acoustics designed by Yasuhisa Toyota, acoustic designer of noted performance venues like Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. Designed to truly reflect the university’s commitment to sustainability, the concert hall and adjacent Maathai Hall (featuring a black box theatre and dance studio) have been built to Gold LEED standards and feature vegetated green roofs. Photo voltaic cells on the Soka Performing Arts Center roof generate approximately 15% of the facility’s electrical needs.   

About Soka University of America
Soka University of America is a private, non-profit, four-year liberal arts college and graduate program. The university is open to top students of all nationalities and beliefs and was founded upon the Buddhist principles of peace, human rights, and the sanctity of life. For more information, please visit soka.edu.

All information is accurate at the time of printing but is subject to change.

 

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MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer Urbano
949.480.4014
jurbano@soka.edu