Bal Canto Program

A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T |

2 0 1 5 - 2 0 1 6

December 7, 2015 - January 17, 2016

Brenda Shapiro

EARL and BRENDA SHAPIRO FOUNDATION

Prominent members of the Lyric family for many seasons, Brenda

Shapiro and her late husband Earl provided vital support to the

Annual Campaign, the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the

Campaign for Excellence, and the Breaking New Ground Campaign.

The Foundation has cosponsored several mainstage productions, most

recently

The Passenger

(2014/15). Lyric is honored to have Brenda

Shapiro serve on the Board of Directors as well as the Executive,

Production Sponsorship, and Lyric Unlimited Committees.

LIZ STIFFEL

A passionate devotee of opera and loyal subscriber at Lyric, Liz is a

prominent member of Lyric’s Women’s Board and a longstanding

member of the Guild Board of Directors. She has generously

supported The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, and

has underwritten the Opening Night Pre-Opera Cocktail Buffet, the

Opera Ball Reception, and the Wine Auction Honored Guest Dinner.

This past season, Liz Stiffel was a Diamond Patron of the celebratory

60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball. Previously, Liz Stiffel was the Lead Sponsor

of the Renée Fleming Subscriber Appreciation Concert (2010/11) and the Stars of Lyric

Opera at Millennium Park

concert (2013/14), and she generously cosponsored several

mainstage productions, most recently

Carousel

(2014/15). She has also supported Lyric’s

Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, and Lyric has named Mezzanine Box 1 in

recognition of her significant gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign.

Carol and William Vance

MRS. HERBERT A. VANCE and

MR. and MRS. WILLIAM C. VANCE

Lyric Opera appreciates the extraordinary generosity and

leadership of the Vance Family. For more than 20 years,

Mrs. Herbert A. Vance provided Lead Sponsorship of

Opera in the Neighborhoods, one of Lyric’s most popular

youth-enrichment programs. The Vances have generously

sponsored/cosponsored several Lyric premieres and new

productions, most recently

Oklahoma!

(2012/13),

The

Sound of Music

(2013/14),

Carousel

(2014/15), and this

season’s

The King and I

. For many years, the Vances have

supported young singers through their sponsorship of

Ryan Opera Center ensemble members. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance

contributed to the Campaign for Excellence and the Breaking New Ground Campaign,

and are generous sponsors of the Renée Fleming Initiative. Mr. Vance is an esteemed

member of Lyric’s Board of Directors, Compensation, and Executive Committees. He

also serves on the Ryan Opera Center Board, of which he is a past President.

Donna Van Eekeren

DONNA VAN EEKEREN FOUNDATION

Donna Van Eekeren is a devoted opera fan, Lyric subscriber,

and generous supporter of the Ryan Opera Center. She enjoys

encouraging talented young artists in her roles as a Ryan Opera

Center Distinguished Benefactor and Lead Sponsor of Rising

Stars in Concert and Exclusive Sponsor of its radio rebroadcast on

98.7WFMT. Reflecting her passion for introducing young people

to opera, the Donna Van Eekeren Foundation has supported Lyric’s

Performances for Students, NEXT

Discount Tickets for College

Students, and Opera in the Neighborhoods, as well as Fantasy of

the Opera and as a Singer Sponsor for the Ryan Opera Center. This season, the Donna

Van Eekeren Foundation generously cosponsors

The Merry Widow,

having previously

cosponsored several mainstage productions. Donna also made a leadership gift to the

Breaking New Ground Campaign to secure Lyric’s future. Executive Chairman of Land

O’Frost, Donna Van Eekeren is a valued member of Lyric’s Board of Directors, serving

as Secretary of the Board, on the Executive and Production Sponsorship Committees,

and on the Ryan Opera Center Board.

THE WALLACE FOUNDATION

The Wallace Foundation is a national philanthropy that seeks to improve learning

and enrichment for disadvantaged children and foster the vitality of the arts for

everyone. Wallace has an unusual approach: funding projects to test innovative ideas

for solving important social problems, conducting research to find out what works and

what doesn’t and to fill key knowledge gaps – and then communicating the results to

help others. Lyric Opera is the recipient of a multi-

phase grant as part of the Foundation’s

Building

Audiences for Sustainability

initiative; the grant will

fund research and analysis of Lyric Opera audiences,

and reveal ways in which Lyric can maximize its reach

in the community. Lyric’s work will inform lessons

that will be shared with the broader field.

ROBERTA L. and

ROBERT J. WASHLOW

Roberta and Bob Washlow are cherished members of

the Lyric family. For more than three decades, they have

enjoyed attending Lyric performances and special events,

and have generously supported the Annual Campaign.

Since 1986, the Port, Washlow, and Errant Families

sponsored more than 20 Lyric productions. Roberta and

Bob made a generous commitment to the Breaking New Ground Campaign to support

Lyric Unlimited activities. The Washlows have annually remained valued members

of the production sponsorship family, and generously cosponsor this season’s world

premiere of

Bel Canto.

Lyric is honored to have Roberta Washlow as an esteemed

member of its Board of Directors.

MR. and MRS. ROBERT G. WEISS

Lyric is honored to have found dedicated friends in Robert

and Floretta Weiss. Subscribers since shortly after Lyric’s

inception, the Weisses have long been a pillar of the Lyric

Opera community. A cherished member of the Women’s

Board, Flo has supported board activities with her time

and generous commitment for many years. Together,

Bob and Flo have contributed regularly to the Annual

Campaign and have given leadership gifts to the Great Opera Fund, the Building on

Greatness Capital Campaign, the Campaign for Excellence, and the Breaking New

Ground Campaign. Lyric is sincerely grateful for the longstanding devotion of Bob

and Flo Weiss.

MR. and MRS. ROBERT E. WOOD II

Rob and Susan Wood have been steadfast members of the Lyric Opera family for more

than three decades. Rob Wood serves as a distinguished Life Director of the Board.

Together, the Woods have contributed leadership gifts to the Great Opera Fund,

the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the Campaign for Excellence, and the

Breaking New Ground Campaign. They are loyal subscribers and generous supporters

of the Annual Campaign, and Lyric Opera is forever grateful for their friendship.

HELEN and SAM ZELL

Helen and Sam Zell are passionate supporters of Chicago’s

vibrant cultural scene. They are longtime subscribers to

Lyric Opera and have contributed to the Annual Campaign

and special projects, including the Wine Auction, for many

years. Helen and Sam Zell have previously cosponsored

several new productions, and this season are generous

cosponsors of Lyric’s world premiere

Bel Canto

ANNE ZENZER

A dedicated subscriber and longtime member of the

Guild Board, Lyric is proud to recognize Anne Zenzer

for her generous planned gift as part of the Breaking New

Ground Campaign. A partner at Witt/Kieffer Associates,

and a lifelong opera enthusiast and staunch supporter of

the Annual Campaign, Anne has ensured Lyric’s bright

future through her thoughtful commitment and charitable

foresight.

Anne Zenzer and husband

Dominick DeLuca