The Maret School held its Scholarship
Auction Kick-off Party at the Hungarian Embassy hosted by Ambassador András
and Mrs. Simonyi. The event, entitled the Maret Frog Hop Special Wine
Tasting and Rock and Roll, featured the Washington, DC-based rock/blues
band, the "Coalition of the Willing."
The band includes Maret parent Dan
Poneman, a principal with the Scowcroft Group and a former presidential
aide, on guitar; Ambassador Simonyi on guitar; USWIB Executive Director
Dan McDermott on drums; Lincoln Bloomfield, President of the international
business advisory firm Palmer Coates LLC and former Assistant Secretary of
State, on bass; along with legendary guitarist Jeff "Skunk"
Baxter, formerly with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers, currently a
missile defense advisor to the Pentagon and the musical director of the
band.
The audience of about 250 Maret parents
and other guests had the privilege of enjoying wine expert Ben Giliberti's
interesting introduction to Hungarian wines and a special guest appearance
on drums by Robert Mosbacher, Jr., President and CEO of Overseas Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC).
The "Coalition of the Willing"
Keith Stephens, soundman; Dan McDermott; Dan Poneman;
Kim and Jeff Baxter; Náda Simonyi; Susan Poneman; Mary Haft; Maret School
Head Mario Talbott; Susan Wedlan; Ambassador Simonyi; and Lincoln
Bloomfield
From left, Ambassador Simonyi, Lincoln Bloomfield, Jeff
Baxter, and Dan Poneman
Robert Mosbacher, President and CEO of OPIC, on drums
