FWCD Makes Statement at Slau Talent. Dedication. Heart. That is what the Slaughter Family Arts Awards (SFAA) celebrates, as it recognizes and promotes excellence and effort in the fine arts community. In the inaugural and certainly memorable year, where winners were announced virtually over the course of a week in a series of Facebook videos, FWCD students cleaned up, taking home eight awards and $500 scholarships. Winners were: • Samuel Asprilla ’23: Excellence in Instrumental Performance (Jazz) • Grace Bobo ’21: Excellence in Visual Art (Painting) • Claire Guthrie ’20: Excellence in Theatre (Monologue) • Alex Nolan ’23: Excellence in Instrumental Performance (Contemporary) • Humberto Zamorano ’21: Excellence in Visual Art (3D Art) 18
THE FALCONER
Will Tuomey ’20 swept the Dance category with three wins for Group Choreography, Solo Choreography and Solo Performance. More than 90 students from FWCD, All Saint’s Episcopal School, Southwest Christian School and Trinity Valley School entered submissions in one or more of 15 categories. Because of COVID-19 restrictions and socialdistancing protocols, the awards were presented on Facebook and Instagram starting on May 15 at 6:15 p.m. with a live-stream event featuring Rebecca (Shaw) ’02 and J Mack Slaughter ’02. Videos revealing the winners were posted shortly thereafter. “Our goal was to celebrate young people in grades 9-12 for artistic work they are doing in or outside of school,” Rebecca noted. “Not all students who entered were involved in art in their schools, but in some way, art touched their lives.”
To add some revelry to the virtual event, the Slaughters snagged some top talent to present awards, including actors Debbie Brown, David Coffee and Carlson Elizabeth Young ’09; threetime Emmy Award-winning actress Sainty Nelsen and four-time Emmy Award-winning television, film and Broadway actor/producer Eric Nelson, artist Ann Ekstrom; former Associate Artistic Director of the Dallas Theater Center Joel Ferrell; sculptor and painter Nancy Lamb; musician Travis Newman ’02; and dancer and choreographer Merrill West ’97. Founded in 2020, the Slaughter Family Arts Awards are the brainchild of Rebecca and J Mack (see Alumni Profile on J Mack on page 50), who have a longtime affinity and passion for fine arts. J Mack grew up in a family of musicians and became a singer/ songwriter and actor. Rebecca discovered her passion for ballet when she was 6,