aty, TX - Critically acclaimed violinist Judy Kang performed at Pulcinella Ristorante in Katy, Texas on February 4th as part of the ARTreach Founders Celebration.  This was a special event that celebrated Katy ARTreach and its five years of art and educational outreach, with a host of founding board directors and major financial benefactors in attendance.  This event was made possible thanks to Pulcinella owners Mr. and Mrs. Dwight C. Sellars.

Todd Frazier, an ARTreach advisor and founder of American Festival for the Arts introduced Judy Kang to the audience.  Since her first solo performance at the age of four, Ms. Kang has performed with major orchestras and ensembles around the world including the Toronto Symphony, National Arts Center Orchestra, Montreal Chamber Orchestra, Ottawa Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, CBC Vancouver Orchestra, McGill Chamber Orchestra, and the Korean Chamber Ensemble, among others. She has given solo recitals to diverse audiences in major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago and Los Angeles, and across Canada. In recognition of her outstanding achievement and contribution to the arts, Ms. Kang is featured in the upcoming book entitled Korea and Canada: A Shared History. Ms Kang is a Worldvision artist and ambassador with an international Christian relief organization dedicated to helping poverty-stricken children and their communities. Currently, she performs on the 1689 Baumgartner Stradivarius, generously awarded by the Canada Council.

ARTreach founders include board members and individuals who have donated $1,000-$25,000 to support Katy ARTreach in the founding years of 2003-2008. Each of ARTreach founders received a certificate of acclaim and an invitation to this special dinner at Pulcinella.

Pulcinella provided a wonderful dinner and setting for Ms. Kangs performance “The evening was absolutely amazing,” said Downy Vickery, an ARTreach founder and CEO and president of Tradition Bank. “We place a tremendous emphasis on getting involved in the life of the communities we serve. Katy ARTreach is a perfect example of the type of organization we love to be associated with.  Katy ARTreach touches the lives and hearts of so many, and is one of the reasons that make Katy such a wonderful place in which to live and work.  It’s a fun, worthwhile organization that provides us a chance to help others and give back to the community.”

In the five years since its founding, Katy ARTreach has branched out to serve higher numbers of children at risk, special needs youth and adults, and the elderly in numerous communities in Katy, Houston, Fort Bend County and Woodlands.  Pulcinella Ristorante will be hosting ARTreach Community Connection Dinners each month to help raise awareness for the organization and its mission.  A dinner held in March at Pulcinella will focus on children at risk in the school district and how mentors and integrated ART can help. Upcoming Community Connection Dinners at Pulcinella will focus on foster care issues, concerns for the elderly, special needs children and adults, and will promote the ARTreach vision for communities to embrace the arts as a way to improve and enrich the life of individuals and of society. Visit www.artreachonline.org to learn more.