Anniversary gala

As a painter and art teacher in the Winchester public schools in the 1980s, Maryellen Sakura of Arlington embraced the idea of a community center where artists could rent studio space. After driving her daughter to art centers in Belmont, Lexington, and Cambridge, she understood the need for literary, performing, and visual arts classes nearby.

So when a group began meeting to transform an empty school building into the Arlington Center for the Arts, she joined the effort as educational program director.

Sakura said she felt confident in the center's long-term success when new faces joined and then took over its board of directors. And now the center is honoring its original board members and founders for their contribution to arts and culture in Arlington.

The second annual Alan McClennen Community Arts Award will be presented by National Book Award nominee Andre Dubus III during the Arlington center's 20th anniversary fund-raiser and gala next weekend. The event will also feature local musicians, dancers, a silent auction, and a photography exhibit of 40 Arlington citizens from all walks of life.

Sakura will be recognized along with Steven Carter of Medford; Paula Gassmann of Lexington; Arlington residents Jean Flanagan, Ann LeRoyer, Richard Spencer, and David Whittredge; and former Arlington residents Nancy Kreibel of Santa Fe, Jo Pitkin of Cold Spring, N.Y., and Wendy Wilson of Putney, Vt.

"This award is a wonderful symbol of the commitment we all made 20 years ago, as well as the hard work of those who continue [the center] today," said Sakura, who still volunteers with the organization. "I can honestly say that my involvement with the ACA has been one of the best things I've done in my life."

"ACA Celebrates" will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at 41 Foster St. in Arlington. For tickets, call 781-648-6220 or visit acarts.org.

ANCIENT TRADITION: Composer Mark Kross of Stoneham sometimes wakes in the middle of the night with a melody racing through his mind. The inspiration for his new jazz cantata came from the Middle Ages.

While flipping through a copy of "Pirke Avot: Sayings of the Jewish Fathers" in his home, he found three slips of paper on which his father had written his favorite inside-joke catch phrases. The text was still on his mind when he was planning the spring concert for the Concord-based Middlesex School, where he helps run the music department.

According to Kross, it will take nearly an hour for the 10-piece jazz orchestra, student choruses, faculty/staff chorus, and vocal soloists to perform all 14 movements. He estimates that the piece, which is based on the book's collection of sayings and writings of eminent European rabbis who lived during medieval times, took 300 hours to compose.

"Composing is like solving a puzzle, especially when you're writing for a large ensemble," Kross said. "The best part is hearing the music performed and saying, 'Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking.' "

The spring concert will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Middlesex School's Memorial Chapel. It is open to the public, with donations collected at the door to benefit Burmese refugees.

People items may be submitted to Cindy Cantrell at cantrell@globe.com.