2009 Horizon Awards

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2009 Horizon Awards

30-Mar-2009

The Fresno Arts Council (FAC) is pleased to announce its Annual 2009 Horizon Awards, celebrating 24 years of honoring those dedicated to excellence in the arts. The award is given to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses that have made significant contributions toward the enrichment of life in our community through excellence in the Arts. This year the awards were created by artist Garrett Masterson.

You are invited to the Horizon Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Fresno City Hall. A reception immediately following the ceremony by “The Painted Table” Catering Company. Fresno Magazine and Socient will be taking photos of the event. Tickets are $20 per person (12 years and under are free) and are available at the FAC office, or you may purchase tickets at the ceremony. Please RSVP to Maria Franco at: mfranco@fresnoartscouncil.org, or call 559.237-9734.

Listed below are the recipients and categories of the 2009 Horizon Awards:

Artist: Will J. Portis
Business: Toshiro Yoshioka, Tokyo Garden Restaurant
Citizen: Peter & Angela Dal Pezzo
Ella Odorfer Educator: Dr. Roy Klassen
Special: Granville Homes, Inc.
Special: League of Mexican American Women
Youth: Patrick Contreras

Artist: Willis J. Portis in 1973 attended the University of Akron for Fine Arts; graduated in 1991 with a B.A. from National University in Interdisciplinary Studies; and in 1993, he received his M.A. in Instructional Leadership, also from National University. While studying, Mr. Portis worked as a Maintenance Worker IV for Central Unified School District and after his degree; he worked at the West Fresno School District as the Transportation Director/ Maintenance & Operations Supervisor for 13 years, and he retired in 2004. Mr. Portis’ art career began while he was in high school; he worked as a Display Artist for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. In 1972 Mr. Portis worked at the Interior’s 400 Design Agency and in 1977 he worked for the Tappan Stove Company in the Graphic & Printing Department.

In 1979 Mr. Portis relocated to California and freelanced as a Commercial/Fine Artist for numerous companies and private clients, creating hundreds of works of art. He is an accomplished portrait artist and Master of landscape art. In addition to Mr. Portis’ paintings on canvas, his work can be seen on wall murals completed over the years. In his dedication and commitment to art, Mr. Portis has spent time as an Artist of Residence at the African American Historical Museum. He also has conducted a number of art lectures, seminars and classes over the course of his career as an Artist. After years of practice, research and study, Mr. Portis’ art style is described as Realism and Abstract Realism; his artwork have been noted for their detail and lighting that brings out the character of his subjects.

Business: Toshiro Yoshioka, Tokyo Garden Restaurant. In 1983 Mr. Yoshioka took over Tokyo Garden Restaurant in Fresno. In 1988 he went to San Francisco to run another Japanese restaurant and in 1994 he returned to Tokyo Garden Restaurant. In 1996 Mr. Yoshioka started offering entertainment in the restaurant for local musicians and still continues; artists are grateful to Mr. Yoshioka for his willingness and commitment in giving musicians a chance to perform at his restaurant. In 2005 he helped artist Michael Garcia open Club Jinnaka Studio next door to Tokyo Garden Restaurant, where many artists have exhibited their artwork. Mr. Yoshioka is an inspiration to all artists. He is married to Etsulco and has two children.

Citizen: Peter & Angela Dal Pezzo came to Fresno in 1986, but did not meet until years later while skiing at Sierra Summit. They were married in 1997 and have six children and five grandchildren. Mr. Dal Pezzo grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and in 1968 he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. While in Richmond, Virginia he earned a Master of Science degree in Business Finance. In late 1986 Mr. Dal Pezzo moved to Fresno and in 1987 he joined with a few if his friends and acquired Pelco. Mr. Dal Pezzo served in various positions during his 21 years there ranging from Vice President of Engineering, Vice President of Manufacturing, Vice President of Facilities, and then Vice President of Corporate Projects. He retired in 2007 when Pelco was sold to Schneider Electric Company of France. In 2003 Mr. Dal Pezzo was honored as an “Outstanding Industrial Manufacturing Alumni” by the College of Engineering at Penn State University. He is still very involved with the University serving on two advisory boards. Mrs. Dal Pezzo grew up in Zurich, Switzerland and has a background in Chemistry and International Business. She came to the United States in 1975. Mrs. Dal Pezzo attended Fresno City College where she was awarded the Dean’s Medal upon graduation. She then went on to Fresno State and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science degree in International Business. Mrs. Dal Pezzo has been involved in various charities for many years and is very passionate about her philanthropy. Mr. and Mrs. Dal Pezzo became blessed as Pelco was sold and it gave them the opportunity to give back to the community and make Fresno a better place for everyone. It is their religious belief that when blessed to pass their blessings on to others. They believe that the quality of the arts helps define a community, and by helping the various cultural institutions remain viable for the benefit of future generations. In contributing to the community, they hope to inspire others to do likewise.

Ella Odorfer Educator: Dr. Roy Klassen’s music education began at Immanuel High School in Reedley where he was one of two freshmen chosen to be in the select Concert Choir. From there, he continued his musical education at Fresno Pacific College for several years before transferring to Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he studied with Dr. Howard Swan and graduated with a B.A. in Solo Voice Performance. While attending school there he had various opportunities to sing with the New York City Opera Company and other well-known choral educators and orchestras as soloist and chorister. Dr. Klassen taught at Village Christian School in Sun Valley and choral music at John Muir Jr. High School in Burbank and received his M.A. in Vocal Performance at California State University, Los Angeles. He taught choral music at Glendale High School for three years before coming to Fresno Pacific University, where he has been since 1977. After his first 10 years at the University, he completed a Doctor of Music Arts degree in Choral Conducting at Arizona State University. Dr. Klassen has also been involved in church music leadership in various church choir positions in Pasadena, Bel Aire, Glendale, Sanger and Fresno. Currently he leads two different church choirs in the Fresno area while working full-time at the University where he teaches conducting, maintains a full private voice studio, directs both the Concert and Chamber Choirs, and is founder and conductor of the San Joaquin Chorale, a semi-professional choir of alumni and community singers. Dr. Klassen has served as clinician and adjudicator for schools throughout the United States and Japan, including festivals and workshops for the American Choral Directors Association, California Music Educators Association, and Association of Christian Schools International. He is married to Paula and they have three married children and two grandchildren.

Special: Darius Assemi, Granville Homes, Inc. is a 1983 graduate of CSUF with a degree in Civil Engineering. Since 1983 Mr. Assemi worked at Granville Homes, a family-run business, and is the Vice President. He is involved in many non-profit organizations in Fresno and across the world and initiated the annual Granville Home of Hope fundraiser, which has raised nearly $1.3 million since its introduction in 2006 providing funds to help many local organizations help those who are less fortunate. Mr. Assemi is the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design-Accredited Professional (LEED AP) Certified and a Build It Green, Certified Green Building Professional. He recently incorporated these revolutionary ideas into a new line of Eco-Smart homes that are currently available to new homeowners in Fresno. His other affiliations include: Board of Directors of the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District; Board of Directors of American Medical Overseas Relief; Board of Directors of the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno; and Board of Directors of the Building Industry Association. Mr. Assemi’s approach to life is two fold. On the business side his goal is to build Fresno’s most innovative homes and neighborhoods; and on the more personal side he wants to help causes that bring food, shelter, employment, health care, education and hope to under privileged families and neighborhoods, both in this county and across the world. His education at CSUF gave him an opportunity to learn and work with a diverse group of faculty and students and cultures and ethnicities. This experience along with his personal upbringing in Iran has helped him understand how to embrace diversity and work with it as a point of strength. “We are very blessed to live in a country where there is so much opportunity for growth and advancement in so many areas of our life. It would be a shame to not to share these blessings with other citizens of this world.”

Special: The League of Mexican American Woman is a community-based service organization that was established in 1973. The League has always showcased the rich Mexican culture of its members, an integral part of the lives of so many Central Valley residents and a source of pride for our community and the next generation. This organization is composed of Latinas from all walks of life, women that work in all areas of the public and private sector, college students and “stay at home moms.” They all work together as volunteers to make the League successful in forwarding its agenda. For over 30 years, the League’s projects have focused on the promotion of educational programs, social and cultural activities, and volunteerism. League members have benefited from being involved and working on these programs and have gone on to careers in politics, education, business, social services and philanthropy in Fresno and beyond. The women in the League serve as excellent role models for young women in our community. As one of the oldest Latina organizations in the Fresno area, the League is unique because of the extremely talented women who have been involved and because throughout the years, and changes in membership, the League has energetically focused time, talent and resources on the original goal of bringing awareness and solutions to critical issues that impact our community. This has been achieved through our service projects, the annual woman’s conference - Adelante Mujer Hispana, the Craycroft Picnic, Student Scholarships and Philanthropic Gifts to deserving individuals and institutions such as the Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Arte Americas and several Fresno County elementary schools. Funds to support these efforts are raised by the League at the annual golf tournament in August and the Fiesta Navideña fashion show. Through the work of the League, Fresno County residents have reaped the benefits from increased resources and services that have enriched our community and enhanced our lives.

Youth: Patrick Contreras' versatile electric violin sound can only be described as “eclectic” because of his innovative style. He is highly sought after to perform at many venues throughout the Fresno area and is considered one of the best performers in Fresno. He also has performed at the Warnor’s Theater, Arte Americas, the Tower Theater, the Visalia Fox Theater, the Best of Fresno Music Festival and many more. Nationally and internationally Patrick has performed in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle, New York, Chicago and Las Vegas, and from Mexico to Germany, Italy to France and in London as the headline act at the Rolling Stone’s own prestigious Voodoo Bar. Patrick has an incredible musical resume that includes several years of teaching violin and being a role model for young musicians. The Fresno Arts Council honored Patrick at the “Dining with the Artist” event last year; we are very proud of his accomplishments.