Patti LaBelle at Duke Ellington School of the Arts

As Georgetown’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts celebrates its 40th year, honing the talents of aspiring artists while preparing them for continuing academic success, the signature annual fundraising event was held on March 25 at the Kennedy Center, starring Patti Labelle. Previous artists included Ellington alumni Denyce Graves and Dave Chappelle as well as Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. Leon Harris of ABC7 News emceed the program and quipped, “Be thankful that I am not going to be singing.” Ellington students participated, as did pianist Jamar Jones, who will be producing LaBelle’s next CD. School co-founder Peggy Cooper Cafritz hailed Head of School and CEO Rory Pullens as “the best principal in the city.” It was a joyous occasion.