The 52nd SCFTA Candlelight season launched with Candlelight Kickoff
The 52nd Candlelight season officially began with Candlelight Kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 6, hosted by co-chair Kate Levering-Jahangiri and her husband, Reza Jahangiri at their stunning Newport Beach home overlooking the Back Bay, with a record-breaking turnout. The gathering offered guests a celebratory preview of the Center’s annual fundraising gala, set to take place on Friday, Dec. 4.
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Photo by Cara Garcia/Courtesy of SCFTA
(L-R) Jaynine Warner and Kate Levering-Jahangiri served as co-chairs of the 52nd Annual Candlelight Concert
This past spring, Segerstrom Center for the Arts (SFCTA) announced board members Kate Levering-Jahangiri and Jaynine Warner as co-chairs of the 52nd Annual Candlelight Concert. Kicking off this year’s Candlelight season with them at the helm is an exciting moment for the Center. Their leadership, generosity and passion for the arts will help make the 52nd Candlelight Concert a truly memorable evening while advancing the Center’s mission.
“As we celebrate the Center’s 40th anniversary this September, Katy and I are deeply honored to serve as this year’s co-chairs. We recognize that we are the current stewards of something truly extraordinary. Our responsibility is to honor all those who came before us by carrying Candlelight’s legacy forward, ensuring that this remarkable tradition continues to inspire generosity, bring our community together and support the Center for generations to come,” said Warner.
“It is a privilege to join Jaynine in leading this iconic event. We are also thrilled to announce our 4th Annual Candlelight Master Class. On Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Samueli Theatre, six talented local high school students will have the rare opportunity to perform for an audience, and receive direct, personal guidance and mentorship. As an actress myself, I can’t imagine a more inspiring experience for a young artist,” said Levering-Jahangiri.
One of Orange County’s most cherished philanthropic traditions, this annual event continues to bring together the Center’s most dedicated supporters to raise funds for their educational and community programs. As the Center enters their 40th anniversary season, Candlelight Concert remains both a cornerstone celebration and a meaningful expression of the community’s enduring commitment to the arts that ensure the Center remains a vibrant cultural home for generations to come.
Candlelight Concert is Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ longest-running annual fundraising tradition, bringing together community leaders and arts supporters to raise critical funds for the Center’s nonprofit artistic, educational and community programs. Now in its 52nd year, Candlelight remains a defining celebration of philanthropy and the power of the arts in Orange County.
Levering-Jahangiri has built a distinguished career on stage and screen, including work on Broadway, television and film. A veteran of six Broadway productions, she earned a Tony Award nomination for her role as Peggy Sawyer in the Broadway revival of 42nd Street and received the Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer in a Musical.
Warner graduated from the University of California, Davis, and built a career in aviation, culminating as a Captain/Pilot-in-Command for SkyWest Airlines, where she was responsible for the safe operation of thousands of flights. She has served on the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Board of Directors for 10 years and has held leadership roles across the Center’s committees and support groups, including the Education Committee, Avenue to the Arts (Founding President), the Arts and Business Leadership Council and the Board of Angels of the Arts.
Programs Supported by Candlelight Concert include Studio D, American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and Education and Engagement programs.
