The 2008 CalArts Alumni Founders’ Ball

In 2005, the Alumni Association launched the Founders’ Ball to convene CalArts alumni, faculty, staff and friends to pay tribute to individuals who made a significant contribution to the lives of CalArts alumni and the greater arts community. This year’s ball, to be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 4 at the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT), will honor the following individuals:

THE LULU AWARD: Kobla Ladzekpo
The Lulu Award is named for Lulu May Von Hagen, one of the founders of CalArts, and is awarded to a member of the CalArts community who embodies the founding spirit of CalArts.

A graduate of CalArts School of Music (BFA '71) and California State University/Northridge (M.A, Anthropology), Kobla Ladzekpo went on to become a distinguished member of CalArts' faculty for over 30 years prior to his retirement in 2007. In addition to his work as an educator, Ladzekpo was a major proponent of World Music at CalArts, served as Co-Director of African Music and Dance Ensembles and ultimately founded the Zadonu African Music and Dance Company, with which continues to perform and educate musicians on Ghanaian musical and dance traditions.

THE NELLIE AWARD: I Nyoman Wenten
The Nellie Award is named for Nelbert Chouinard, founder of the Chouinard Institute, and is awarded to CalArts alumni who have made a significant personal and creative contribution to the Institute and the art world.

CalArts' Nicholas England Chair, Indonesian Music and Dance, I Nyoman Wenten, has lectured and performed internationally and served as the director of music, dance and language program for the Indonesian Cultural Center for the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia. He produced and served as musical consultant for a highly regarded series of CD recordings of gamelan music released by CMP Records, Germany. Wenten holds degrees from CalArts School of Music (MFA '74), UCLA's Ethnomusicology Program (Ph.D.), the National Academy of Dance in Jogyakarta, Java and the Music and Dance Conservatory in Bali.

HONORARY ALUMNA: Edie Wasserman
Honorary membership in the CalArts Alumni Association is extended to those individuals who hold a special place in the hearts of CalArts’ alumni and who have contributed significantly to the well being of students and alumni.

With her late husband, Lew (Chairman and CEO of MCA, Inc.), Edie Wasserman started the Wasserman Foundation in 1952 to support a range of charitable interests. The couple launched the Wasserman Scholarship Program to provide funds to promising students at six colleges and universities, including CalArts. Mrs. Wasserman made her first scholarship gift to CalArts in 1977 and over the past thirty-one years has supported over 700 students.

In 1980, the Lew and Edie Wasserman Scholarship Fund was established with an initial gift that was the largest single endowed scholarship gift in CalArts’ history at that time. CalArts Wasserman Scholars include Sean Adams (BFA Art '86) and Noreen Morioka (BFA Art '88) (graphic designers at AdamsMorioka, Inc.); Don Cheadle (BFA Theater '86, actor Ocean’s Eleven, Traffic and Hotel Rwanda); Steve Hillenburg (MFA Film/Video '92, animator for SpongeBob SquarePants) and Dawn Stoppiello (BFA Dance '89, choreographer and founder of Troika Ranch dance theater company) Mrs. Wasserman served on CalArts Board of Trustees between 1978 and 1987.