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A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T |
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February 22 - March 19, 2016
Craig C. Martin
JENNER & BLOCK
Founded in 1914, Jenner & Block is a leading law firm with global
impact and substantial experience in a broad range of legal issues.
The firm has long played a prominent role in Chicago’s legal and
business communities, and is consistently ranked as one of the top
firms in the country. Jenner & Block has provided significant pro
bono legal expertise to Lyric, along with generous contributions
to the Breaking New Ground Campaign, the Annual Campaign,
the Campaign for Excellence, Fantasy of the Opera, Opera Ball,
and Wine Auction. Lyric is fortunate to have Craig C. Martin, a Partner at Jenner &
Block, as a valued member of its Board of
Directors and Executive Committee.
Eric S. Smith
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO.
Lyric gratefully acknowledges the vital corporate leadership and support
of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Along with the bank’s predecessors The
First National Bank of Chicago and Bank One, JPMorgan Chase has
generously contributed to the Annual Campaign, the Building on
Greatness Capital Campaign, Lyric Unlimited, Facilities Fund, the
Great Opera Fund, and Wine Auction. The bank has also cosponsored
many mainstage productions, including this season’s new production
of
The Marriage of Figaro
. Lyric is honored to have Eric S. Smith,
Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase, serve as a member of its Board of Directors, Executive
and Nominating/Governance Committees, and as
chairman of the Lyric Unlimited Committee.
STEPHEN A. KAPLAN and ALYCE K. SIGLER
Early supporters of Lyric’s Wine Auction, Stephen Kaplan
and Alyce Sigler have generously contributed to the
triennial gala through event cosponsorship and donations
from their internationally renowned collection of wine.
Stephen also serves as a Wine Auction Advisor Emeritus
to the Women’s Board. As an esteemed National Member
of the Board of Directors, Stephen along with Alyce has
supported major campaigns such as the Campaign for Excellence and the Breaking
New Ground Campaign. Lyric is also grateful for their many years of steadfast Annual
Campaign support.
MR. and MRS. GEORGE D. KENNEDY
Lyric Opera is grateful for the staunch support of George and Valerie Kennedy. As a
former member of the Board of Directors, George Kennedy has long been passionate
about the financial health of Lyric, having previously supported the Annual Campaign
and the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign. The Kennedys have also sponsored
Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park, and recently made a generous gift to the
Breaking New Ground Campaign.
RICHARD P. and SUSAN KIPHART
Dick and Susie Kiphart are esteemed members of the
Lyric Opera family and are visionary philanthropists. They
have generously cosponsored several Lyric productions,
most recently
The Passenger
(2014/15). In honor of Lyric’s
Golden Jubilee (2004/05), they made a significant gift
to Lyric to establish the Richard P. and Susan Kiphart
Costume Director Endowed Chair. They have made lead-
ership contributions to the Campaign for Excellence, of
which Dick served as chairman, and the Breaking New Ground Campaign. They also
continue to provide major support for Lyric’s radio programming as members of the
broadcast consortium and are generous sponsors of the Renée Fleming Initiative. Dick
Kiphart is head of William Blair & Company’s Private Client Advisors Business and a
member of the firm’s executive committee. He is a past President and CEO and cur-
rent Chairman of Lyric’s Board of Directors, Chairman of the Nominating/Governance
Committee, and a member of both the Finance and Production Sponsorship
Committees. Susie Kiphart is President of the Ryan Opera Center Board and serves
on the Lyric Unlimited Committee. The Kipharts’ enthusiasm for opera and heartfelt
commitment to Lyric are tremendous assets to the company, and in recognition of their
passion and immense dedication they received the Carol Fox Award, Lyric’s highest
honor, in 2013.
Linda K. Myers
KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP
Kirkland & Ellis LLP has a more than 100-year history of providing
exceptional service to clients in Chicago and around the world
in complex litigation, corporate and tax, intellectual property,
restructuring, and counseling matters. The firm is committed to
enhancing quality of life through educational opportunities, cultural
awareness, youth programs, and community outreach. For many
years, Kirkland & Ellis LLP sponsored Lyric Opera’s Board of
Directors Annual Meeting. More recently, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
cosponsored
Boris Godunov
(2011/12) and
A Streetcar Named Desire
(2012/13), and
was Lead Sponsor of last season’s 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball. This
season the firm continues their production support by cosponsoring
The Merry Widow
.
Lyric Opera is fortunate to have Linda K. Myers, a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP,
as a member of its Board of Directors,
Executive and Production Sponsorship
Committees.
NANCY W. KNOWLES
Opera has always played an important role in the life of Nancy W.
Knowles. Her love for the art form was nurtured by her family’s
musical traditions. “My father had hundreds and hundreds of
records to play,” she fondly recalls, “so classical music was always
in my home.” A devoted subscriber and patron, Nancy Knowles
is a prominent member of the Lyric family. She generously invests
her time, talents, and leadership abilities to advance Lyric as a
member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and formerly as a
Guild Board member. Chairman Emeritus of Knowles Electronics, a manufacturer
of hearing-aid components, Nancy Knowles is president of The Knowles Foundation.
The Knowles Foundation is a leading contributor to Lyric’s Annual Campaign and
has cosponsored several mainstage productions. As part of the Building on Greatness
Capital Campaign, the Foundation provided an assisted listening system to enhance the
operatic experience for hearing-impaired patrons. In recognition of her extraordinary
gift to the Campaign for Excellence, Lyric named the Nancy W. Knowles Lobby in
2007. Mrs. Knowles has once again made a significant gift in support of the Breaking
New Ground Campaign to underwrite the Nancy W. Knowles Student and Family
Performances fund. In recognition of her outstanding generosity and enthusiasm, she
received the Carol Fox Award, Lyric’s highest honor, in 2014. This season, Ms. Knowles
generously underwrites the appearance of Lyric’s world premiere
Bel Canto
on PBS
Great Performances.
MR. and MRS. FRED A. KREHBIEL
Kay and Fred Krehbiel are longstanding dedicated members
of the Lyric Opera family. Lyric gratefully acknowledges
their generous contributions to Lyric’s Wine Auction,
the Annual Campaign, the Building on Greatness Capital
Campaign, the Campaign for Excellence, and the Breaking
New Ground Campaign. Last season, they were Diamond
Patrons of the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond
Ball. Kay Krehbiel is a leading and cherished member of Lyric’s Women’s Board, and
Fred Krehbiel is a National Director of Lyric’s Board of Directors.
JOSEF and MARGOT LAKONISHOK
Devoted members of the Lyric family, Josef and Margot
Lakonishok have subscribed to Lyric for many seasons.
They have contributed to the Annual Campaign, and they
made significant gifts to the Campaign for Excellence and
the Breaking New Ground Campaign. They have also
cosponsored several mainstage productions, including last
year’s
Capriccio
and this season’s
Cinderella.
The CEO of LSV
Asset Management, Josef Lakonishok is a dedicated member
of Lyric’s Board of Directors, serving on the Executive and Investment Committees.
JIM and KAY MABIE
Lyric Opera cherishes the vital leadership and long-
standing support of Jim and Kay Mabie. They are avid
operagoers, having subscribed to Lyric for several decades.
The Mabies have fostered Lyric’s success through generous
contributions to the Annual Campaign, the Building
on Greatness Capital Campaign, and the Campaign for
Excellence. They have also made a leadership gift to the
Breaking New Ground Campaign, and are underwriting
the appearance of Lyric’s world premiere
Bel Canto
on PBS Great Performances. They
cosponsored
Candide
(1994/95),
The Great Gatsby
(2001/02),
Porgy and Bess
(2008/09)
and
Rigoletto
(2012/13). Jim Mabie is an esteemed member of Lyric’s Board of
Directors, serving on the Executive and Investment Committees.