Anniversary Gala

Event Information

An Evening Above the Clouds:

Join Us For Our 16th Anniversary Gala

Saturday, April 25, 2026

6 p.m. Cocktails

7 p.m. Dinner and Program

Join us on Saturday, April 25, for our premier event, An Evening Above the Clouds. This unforgettable night brings together leaders and arts enthusiasts to celebrate 16 years of uplifting our community. Your support will help raise vital funds for Hylton Center performances, programs, and endowment.

Guests will enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail reception, an elegant dinner on the Merchant Hall stage, and a lively after-party.

Table and Exclusive Sponsorships are available now—click below to learn more and secure yours!

The presentation portion of the evening will be captioned.

Secure Your Tickets Here

Honorees

Thomas Sabal and Daniel Tucciarone

Daniel Tucciarone and Thomas Sabal are lifelong arts lovers whose paths to philanthropy were shaped by curiosity, travel, and deep personal connection. From the grandeur of Russia’s Bolshoi Ballet to the vibrant stages of Buenos Aires, Dan and Tom have spent 47 years traveling the globe to experience the world’s most influential artistic treasures. Yet, despite a lifetime of visiting world-class international venues, they chose to center their philanthropy close to home by supporting the Hylton Performing Arts Center, Center for the Arts, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts, collectively known as Mason Arts at George Mason University. In Dan’s words, “why not respect causes in your own neighborhood?”

While they have visited the world's most exclusive stages, Dan and Tom were drawn to Mason Arts by something more meaningful—the people. They were moved by students with extraordinary talent, faculty with visible passion, and venues that feel welcoming, personal, and deeply rooted in the community. For Dan and Tom, philanthropy is a way to seed the future by building a lasting bridge between student ambition and community enrichment to ensure Northern Virginia’s cultural landscape flourishes for generations. “To see the possibility of actual greatness in the arts as a student is amazing,” Tom said.

Beyond their philanthropic leadership, Dan and Tom enjoyed distinguished professional careers—Dan as an auditor and Tom as a pilot for United Airlines. While their work took them across the globe and through complex ledgers, they always turned to the arts as a vital outlet. Over the years, Dan’s eye for architecture and design and Tom’s appreciation for classical music evolved from personal interests into a shared love for championing the arts.

“In retirement[...], we discovered the Hylton Center and started taking advantage of the many fine performances at George Mason. These venues, we are proud to say, have become our home.”

Sheyna Burt

Long before Sheyna Burt was an attorney, she was a child discovering the expansive power of the arts—a visceral connection sparked by the support of her parents and the scent of a violin case. This formative force paved the way for a life of shared connection across her artistic, professional, and civic worlds, shaping a journey defined by performance, leadership, and a tireless drive for access.

Her philanthropic philosophy is rooted in possibility: the belief that access to the arts can change how people see themselves, their communities, and what they can become. That belief ultimately led her to the Hylton Performing Arts Center where she has served as a board member, board chair, and now immediate past chair. As board chair, Sheyna helped guide the Hylton Center through a period of uncertainty, including the challenges of the pandemic and its aftermath.

By balancing her artistic soul with her professional expertise, Sheyna has become a master at building civic-artistic bridges, and the Hylton Center is a place where access becomes personal, and the arts become part of everyday life. For Sheyna, the Hylton Center is not simply a venue; it is a living example of what can happen when a community chooses collaboration, creativity, and shared ownership of cultural life. In Sheyna’s words, “it is beautiful what gets accomplished here and it’s beautiful what went into making it happen. And so, it becomes an example of what this region can do when it decides to work together.”

Looking ahead, Sheyna sees the greatest opportunity in expanding Hylton’s capacity to reach more schools, more families, and more audiences through increased resources and support. “The community’s need for what we offer is only growing. We can’t accommodate all the schools and children who want to be part of our education programming. We’re not big enough yet. In order to reach the people who want to be reached, we have to do more...”