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Sitar Arts Center Celebrates 25 Years of Impact for DC Families at 25th Anniversary Gala
Sitar Arts Center Celebrates 25 Years of Impact for DC Families at 25th Anniversary Gala
Transformative Arts Nonprofit Raises Record $500,000 for Arts Education and Creative Career Training Programs
WASHINGTON, October 23, 2025 — Sitar Arts Center marked a major milestone with its 25th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at The Mayflower Hotel. The evening brought together more than 300 guests for a night of art, music, and community, raising over $500,000 to support Sitar’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable arts education and creative career training for DC’s youth, a record amount.
This monumental event served as the culmination of Sitar’s year-long 25th anniversary celebration, which included the grand opening of Sitar Next Door in September 2025—the Center’s new expansion that will allow Sitar to reach 500 more DC youth and provide access to advanced creative technology.
The gala was co-chaired by Jessica Denson and Christopher Wingert, with Presenting Sponsors Greg Albright and Wes Combs, Peter Fox Project, Provenance Bourbon, and V&S Foundation.
The evening’s programming highlighted current and former students who displayed their artistic talents. Guests were greeted with a red carpet welcome featuring student dancers from The Washington Ballet at Sitar and a student art gallery showcasing original works by two Sitar visual arts students.
Throughout the evening, guests experienced Sitar’s mission in action. From the lively sounds of Sitar’s legacy Saints Band and its new student group, The Journey Band, to a moving performance of “The Moon and Me” from “The Addams Family: School Edition”—Sitar’s 18th annual summer musical—each moment reflected the enduring legacy and impact of Sitar. The program also featured a masterful cello solo by professional cellist and Sitar alum Benz Martson Duglio, a testament to the talent nurtured at Sitar and the power of the arts to help young people reach their full potential.
Sitar presented two youth awards during the evening:
- The 2025 Rhonda Buckley Award for Outstanding Leadership in Community Arts was presented to Ruth Schmidt, who has taken classes at Sitar for more than a decade. Named for Sitar’s founder, Rhonda Buckley-Bishop, the award honors students who exemplify leadership, creativity, and dedication to community through the arts.
- The 2025 Peter Fox Award was presented to Dashlen Garcia, a vocalist, composer, and performer whose talent, passion, and dedication reflect the love, light, and legacy of musician and community leader Peter Fox. Garcia also shared her vocal talents with a powerful solo performance that drew a standing ovation.
“Sitar’s 25th anniversary has been a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come from first opening our doors to 50 students in the basement of a Jubilee Housing building,” said Maureen Dwyer, executive director of Sitar Arts Center. “Today, we welcome hundreds of students each year. Every day, young people walk through our doors and discover their inherent talents, build community, and embrace a sense of belonging. This gala was a beautiful reminder of the community that makes that transformation possible.”
The 25th Anniversary Gala supports Sitar’s year-round programs serving up to 900 children, teens, and young adults annually from every Ward in DC—offering access to affordable, high-quality arts education and career training that fosters belonging, self-expression, and opportunity for all..
About Sitar Arts Center
Founded in 2000, Sitar Arts Center advances equitable access to high quality education and workforce development in the visual, performing, and digital arts. Sitar Arts Center engages D.C. youth, from early childhood to young adulthood, in building a creative community of learning and belonging that removes financial and cultural barriers to arts education and career training. Sitar envisions a city in which all young people experience transformative moments through quality, accessible arts education, and career training, and are supported on their path to discover their creativity and achieve their full potential. For more information, visit www.sitarartscenter.org.