The National Symphony Orchestra’sannual white-tie ball was held in earlyDecember at the Marriott Wardman ParkHotel. The ballroom of the hotel was decoratedin black and white to resembleLondon’s Tate Museum, and includedprojections of the gallery’s modern art collectionon the wall. The Ball raised $1.5million dollars to benefit the Symphony’seducational outreach programs whichenables children to experience live symphonicmusic, often for the first time —through performances at the KennedyCenter, musicians’ visits to schools, andmaster classes and seminars for studentmusicians.