Gala 2026

An Evening of Timeless Soul

Join us! Celebrate generosity, the arts and arts education on Thursday, April 16th at 5:30PM with a special performance by Smokey Robinson at 8PM.

PURCHASE GALA TICKETS!

Our 14th Annual Gala promises to be an evening of timeless soul. Tickets to this pre-show celebration include:

• Premium orchestra seating for Smokey Robinson show
• Hearty small plates 
• Open bars with themed cocktails 
• Silent auction

The pre-show Gala celebration party begins at 5:30PM and the Smokey Robinson performance begins at 8PM.

Enjoy curated craft cocktails from Tuck Gin, a wine bar courtesy of Gratsi Wine, as well as photos from The Absolutely Fabulous Photo Booth!

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The Arts Ovation Award recognizes individuals whose work demonstrates the power of the arts to strengthen community, expand access, and inspire connection. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Mathes has earned international recognition as an Emmy Award–winning, Tony- and Grammy-nominated arranger, composer, producer, and musical director whose work has shaped some of the most celebrated musical performances and recordings of our time.

While widely respected for his extraordinary artistic achievements, Mathes is equally known throughout Fairfield County and the greater New York region for using music as a force for community good. For more than 25 years, his annual Rob Mathes Holiday Concert has become a beloved regional tradition, bringing audiences together each season while raising awareness and support for Food Rescue US – Fairfield County, an organization dedicated to fighting hunger and reducing food waste. The concerts have grown into an inclusive musical celebration drawing audiences from across traditions, backgrounds, and generations—an embodiment of Mathes’ belief that music has the power to unite communities in service to others.

Raised in Greenwich by Yale-trained classical musicians who taught privately and in the Greenwich school system, Mathes’ own path was shaped by arts education – a foundation that continues to inform his work as both an artist and community leader. That philosophy closely mirrors Stamford Center for the Arts’ mission to provide barrier-free arts access and education to young people throughout the region.

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