Miami, FL – January 11, 2014 – On Saturday, The National YoungArts Foundation’s 33rd annual YoungArts Week culminated with a lavish Gala and special performance, bringing together more than 800 notable guests to celebrate the artistic excellence of the 2014 YoungArts Finalists for the first time on their new campus. Set in an elegant outdoor tent, the evening was hosted by Gala chairpersons, Elizabeth and Facundo L. Bacardi, along with the organization’s President and CEO, Paul T. Lehr. Guests including Armando & Margarita Codina, Sarah Arison, Mayda Cisneros, Jorge & Darlene Perez, Susie & Walid Wahab, Craig Robins & Jackie Soffer, Iran Issa Khan, Cathy Leff, Daniel & Marcela Novella, Adam & Lisa Koffler, Martin Margulies, Marvin Ross Friedman & Adrienne bon Haes, Stephanie & Evan Reed, Sandy Muss, Mark & Arlys Raymond, Bruce & Tracey Berkowitz, Sam  Robin, and Tui Pranich, joined YoungArts Artistic Advisor Frank Gehry and Master Teachers including Rosie Perez, Paola Antonelli, Shelly Berg, Angela Brown, James Rosenquist, Naomi Fisher, Jacques d’Amboise and Judith Hill for cocktails, dinner, and an incredible alumni performance directed by renowned dancer, choreographer, and YoungArts Artistic Advisor, Bill T. Jones. The Backyard Ball is the foundations largest annual fundraiser, and this year they managed to raise over 1.5 million dollars.

Some of the amazingly talented alumni who performed included Judith Hill (YoungArts Voice Pop Winner 2002), Emmet H. Cohen (YoungArts Jazz Piano Winner 2009), Grace Weber (YoungArts Voice Pop Winner 2006), Caleb Teicher (YoungArts Dance Tap Winner 2011) and Sandy Cameron (YoungArts Classical Music / Violin Winner 2005). Tony Award® winner Brian Stokes Mitchell emceed the evening that also honored architect Zaha Hadid and actress Rita Moreno with the YoungArts Arison Award, along with YoungArts alumnus Andrew Rannells, who received the Alumni Award, for their influence on the development of young artists. The magical evening concluded on the YoungArts Plaza at the After Hours party with dancing, dessert, and an everlasting memory of the talented young artists and their impact to inspire us and future generations.

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Andrew Rannells

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Bill T. Jones

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Jacques D’Amboise

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Rita Moreno & Judith Hill

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James Rosenquist

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James & Mimi Rosenquist, & Martin Margulies

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Adrienne Arsht

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Judith Hill

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Adrienne Arsht, Paul Lehr, & Judith Hill

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Emilio Estefan, Adrienne Arsht, Mike Eidson, & John Richard

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Walid Wahab, Cathy Leff, Jorge Perez, Stephanie & Evan Reed

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Jorge Perez & Walid Wahab

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Facundo Bacardi & Jorge Perez

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Facundo & Elizabeth Bacardi

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Robert & Ana Codina Barlick

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Ana Codina Barlick & Sara Arison

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Sara Arison

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Marvin Ross Friedman & Adrienne Bon Haes

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Stephanie & Evan Reed, & Cathy Leff

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Sheldon Anderson, Mike & Margaret Eidson

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Sheldon Anderson, Margaret & Mike Eidson

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Don & Colleen Lynn, Judge Ursula Ungaro, & Aldo Serafini

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Marvin Ross Friedman, James & Mimi Rosenquist, & Adrienne Bon Haes

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Gary & Jennifer Nadar, Darlene & Jorge Perez

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Darlene & Jorge Perez

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Jorge Perez & Michele Oka Donner

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Darlene Perez & Michele Oka Donner

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Rosie Perez

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Zaha Hadid

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Zaha Hadid & Frank Gehry

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 Frank Gehry & Zaha Hadid

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Tui Pranich & Iran Issa Khan

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Paul Lehr

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John Richard & Adrienne Arsht

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Paul Lehr

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Frank Gehry

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Zaha Hadid & Frank Gehry

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Zaha Hadid & Brian Stokes Mitchell

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Rosie Perez

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Rosie Perez & Rita Moreno

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Brian Stokes Mitchell, Rita Moreno, & Rosie Perez

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Rita Moreno

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Rita Moreno & Rosie Perez

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Brian Stokes Mitchell

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Andrew Rannells & Brian Stokes Mitchell

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Brian Stokes Mitchell & Andrew Rannells

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Andrew Rannells & Brian Stokes Mitchell

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Paul Lehr, Andrew Rannells, & Brian Stokes Mitchell

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Andrew Rannells, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Sarah Arison, & Paul Lehr

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Mike Eidson, Sarah Arison, & Paul Lehr

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Paul Lehr & Gary Nadar

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Diane Lieberman, Rita Moreno, & Alan Lieberman

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Cosima & Axel Preuss-Kuhne

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Ali Mahallati & Iran Issa Khan

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Michael Kaiser & Paul Lehr

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Terry Schechter & Susie Wahab

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Susie Wahab & Sam Robin

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Paul Lehr & Zaha Hadid

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Criselda Breene, Adam & Lisa Heiden Koffler

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Mariah McBride & Sarah Denicolais

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Katya Segovia Abouarab & Carolyn Travis

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Tui Pranich & Criselda Breene

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Iran Issa Khan, Raj Vattikuti, & Sam Robin

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Iran Issa Khan & Zaha Hadid

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Jennifer & Gary Nadar

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GALLERY SLIDER