By Sentinel Staff
The Stamford Center for the Arts will host its 14th Annual Gala on April 16 at the Palace Theatre, honoring Greenwich musician and producer Rob Mathes while raising funds for arts education programs and the preservation of the historic venue.
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-show reception, followed by a performance by Smokey Robinson at 8 p.m. Gala tickets include premium orchestra seating, a cocktail reception with food and open bars, and access to a silent auction. Organizers have positioned the event as both a celebration of the arts and a principal source of funding for the organization’s community programs.
Mathes will receive the 2026 Arts Ovation Award, which “recognizes individuals whose work demonstrates the power of the arts to strengthen community, expand access, and inspire connection,” according to event materials. His selection reflects a career that has combined professional achievement with sustained local engagement.
Over more than four decades, Mathes has worked as an Emmy Award–winning, Tony- and Grammy-nominated arranger, composer, producer, and musical director. Raised in Greenwich by Yale-trained musicians who taught in both private and public settings, his early exposure to arts education has shaped his approach to music and community work. For more than 25 years, his annual holiday concerts in Fairfield County have drawn regional audiences while supporting Food Rescue US, linking performance with service.
The gala’s fundraising structure underscores that connection between artistic recognition and community investment. Sponsorship levels range from $350 to $15,000, with benefits that include event access, advertising, and public recognition. At the highest level, the presenting sponsorship includes funding for two named Arts Education Opportunity Scholarships tied to the organization’s 2026 Triple Threat Performer Intensive program, along with seating and participation for 18 guests.
Other sponsorship tiers—Miracles Sponsor, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Sponsor, Gold Record Sponsor, King of Motown Sponsor, and Soul Sponsor—offer varying levels of access and visibility, including backstage tours of the theatre, parking, and placement in gala materials. Across all levels, the structure directs support toward a common purpose: sustaining arts programming and maintaining the venue itself.
That purpose extends beyond a single evening. Proceeds from the gala help fund a range of arts education initiatives that serve more than 1,500 students annually, nearly all at no cost. The Stamford Center for the Arts defines its mission as “To engage, motivate, and energize by creating opportunities that build confidence, instill passion, and transform lives,” with a vision of “a vibrant and diverse community where EVERY person is empowered and inspired through self-expression to embrace Arts Education and lifelong appreciation of the Performing Arts.”
Those goals are implemented through programs that emphasize participation over observation. A Sense of Direction, for example, is a four-week course for high school students focused on directing and artistic leadership. Participants work through script analysis, casting, rehearsal techniques, and performance under the guidance of a professional teaching artist. The program is limited in size and offered at no cost, reflecting a model that prioritizes depth of experience and accessibility.
The Emerging Young Artist Awards shifts the focus to writing, inviting students to submit original one-act plays for staged readings. The program culminates in a public presentation, offering young writers the opportunity to see their work interpreted and performed. The 2026 readings will be led by Luis Salgado, a director and choreographer with credits spanning Broadway and international productions, whose work emphasizes the role of the arts in community building.
For younger students, the Global Arts program introduces cultural study through performance. Developed in partnership with Symphony Space, the initiative engages students in grades three through five in a four-day curriculum that includes storytelling, dance, music, and visual art traditions from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Activities range from African drumming to Japanese Taiko and Bharatanatyam dance, with the aim of using the arts to explore both cultural differences and shared human experiences.
The organization also offers the Triple Threat Performer Intensive, a two-week summer program for students ages 9 to 16 that integrates acting, singing, and dance. Directed by Salgado and taught by professional artists, the program emphasizes technical training alongside character development. Scholarships are available based on financial need, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to access.
These programs operate within a building that carries its own historical weight. The Palace Theatre, designed by architect Thomas Lamb and opened in 1927, is approaching its 100th anniversary. Originally constructed as a vaudeville house, the theater has been restored and adapted over decades to serve contemporary audiences while retaining its architectural character.
Maintaining the venue requires ongoing investment. The structure demands continual restoration and upkeep even as it functions as an active performance space. That dual responsibility—preserving a historic building while supporting current programming—shapes much of the organization’s fundraising priorities.
The Stamford Center for the Arts operates the Palace Theatre as part of a broader campus that includes the Rich Forum, positioning the organization as a central cultural institution in downtown Stamford. Its programming spans concerts, theater, film, and community events, drawing audiences from across Fairfield County and the surrounding region.
As the theater approaches its centennial, the April gala reflects both continuity and obligation. It celebrates an artist whose career bridges professional success and community engagement, while directing resources toward programs that expand access to the arts and sustain a historic venue.
Artwork for the gala program is due April 3 and must be submitted in high-resolution digital format. Sponsorship opportunities remain available.
For additional information, contact Laurel Lea at llea@palacestamford.org or Stephanie Getchell at sgetchell@palacestamford.org.
