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📸 Credit: James Harvey Photography
The Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame marked its 25th year by inducting seven artists spanning classical music, folk, theater, journalism, and progressive rock at a banquet Friday night at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva.
Here's what to know:
The Class of 2026: Kelly Barr (classical music), Denise Crosby (journalism), Leslie Hunt (popular and progressive music), Stanley Konopka (classical music), Mary Beth McCarthy (choral music), Courtney Reed (theatre), and Juel Ulven (folk music) were all inducted at the March 27 ceremony.
A first-ever honor: Susan S. Starrett received the inaugural Fox Valley Arts Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.
Youngest inductees in the organization's history: Leslie Hunt and Courtney Reed are among the two youngest people ever inducted into the hall.
Where it started: The FVAHF grew out of Millennium-era celebrations in 2000, originally inspired by a public television project spotlighting Aurora-born violinist Maud Powell. It began with a focus on classical arts and has since expanded to include folk, rock, and other genres.
Proceeds from the banquet support a free community arts event for children. For more information, visit FVAHF.org.
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