Icon Awards
Penelope Spheeris—Women In Film
A holder of a UCLA Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater Arts, she worked as a film editor and a cinematographer before forming her own company in 1974. ROCK ‘N REEL was the first Los Angeles production company specializing in music videos. She produced, directed, and edited videos for major bands through the Seventies and Eighties, concluding her music video work with the Grammy nominated, Bohemian Rhapsody video for WAYNE’S WORLD. Spheeris’ feature film debut was the 1979 documentary on the Los Angeles punk scene, THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, which received stunning and unanimous critical praise.
Brian Auger—Music
The famed B3 and keyboard player, has created a distinct voice that combines jazz, rock, soul and funk, that is clearly recognizable to his millions of fans. With over 20 albums to his name and lengthy stints on the RCA and Warner Bros. labels, Brian Auger has accumulated Grammy Nominations, 10 albums charting in Billboard Hot 100, a #1 single and the title of “The Godfather of Acid Jazz”. Brian’s bands over the years have featured Rod Stuart, Long John Baldry, Julie Driscoll and even Jimi Hendrix. In addition, Brian has recorded with great luminaries as the Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Eric Burdon and Down to the Bone.
Doeri Welch—Animation
Doeri Welch spent the first decade of her career as a director and stage manager in live theater. Impressed with the storytelling, stronger female characters, and wide impact of “Disney Renaissance” animated films like The Lion King and Beauty & the Beast, she joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 1995. Over a 20 plus year period she worked on traditionally animated and CGI feature films and shorts including Hercules, Hunchback, Tarzan, Home on the Range, Emperor’s New Groove, Fantasia 2000, Tangled, Glago’s Guest, Wreck it Ralph, Paperman, Big Hero 6, Frozen, Zootopia, and Moana. She retired her Mickey Mouse Ears in favor of Dragon Wings to join DreamWorks Animation where she is currently the Director of Recruitment.. Doeri and her team hire the creative and production talent for DreamWorks Animation, help drive inclusion programs, and encourage new talent. Her screen credits at DreamWorks include How to Train Your Dragon the Hidden World, Abominable, and coming April 17th this year, Trolls World Tour.
Carol Peters—Art
Carol is an accomplished artist who has dedicated to her time and expertise to a number of community projects over the years. Most recently, she help spearhead the “Gilroy Rocks” program that provided much needed artistic relief to the community of Gilroy after the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting last July. She has received many art awards and most recently her logo design was chosen to be used throughout the city of Gilroy during the 150th Anniversary year, 2020. Carol was a teacher of painting and drawing at Gilroy High for 30 years, illustrated a book “Images of America Gilroy” by Claudia Salewski, served as an independent contractor with FIRST5 Santa Clara County, developing art curriculum and has hosted an art based television show for cable television, Carol on Creativity, winning two WAVE Awards for Video Excellence in eight Western States.