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February 22 - March 19, 2016
THE NEGAUNEE FOUNDATION
The founder of The Negaunee Foundation has great affection for music, the performing
arts, and Mozart. These interests, combined with a strong admiration of Lyric Opera,
have been instrumental in bringing operas to Lyric’s mainstage. The Negaunee
Foundation has cosponsored many productions, most recently
Don Giovanni
and
Carousel
(both 2014/15) and cosponsors
The Marriage of Figaro
and
The King and I
this season. The Negaunee Foundation has also made a generous gift to the Breaking
New Ground Campaign.
Lyric is very fortunate to be among the Chicago cultural
institutions benefitting from The Negaunee Foundation’s leadership and financial
commitment. Lyric is honored to have The Negaunee Foundation’s president serve as a
member of its Board of Directors and Audit Committee.
SYLVIA NEIL and DANIEL FISCHEL
Sylvia and Dan have been loyal Lyric Opera subscribers and
donors for many years. They sponsored the Symposiums
for Lyric productions of
Hercules
(2010/11) and
Show Boat
(2011/12). They have cosponsored several mainstage opera
productions, including this season’s new production of
The Marriage of Figaro
. They made a generous gift to the
Breaking New Ground Campaign to help secure Lyric’s
future. Sylvia is Lecturer in Law, University of Chicago Law School. She is founder
and chair of the Project on Gender, Culture, Religion and Law at Brandeis and is
co-editor of its book series (Brandeis University Press). Dan is President, Chairman
and Co-Founder of the Compass Lexecon consulting firm. He is the Lee and Brena
Freeman Professor of Law and Business Emeritus at the University of Chicago Law
School. Lyric is honored to have Sylvia Neil serve on its Board of Directors, Production
Sponsorship, and Lyric Unlimited Committees.
Jerry and Elaine Nerenberg
THE NERENBERG FOUNDATION
During their lifetimes, Jerry and Elaine Nerenberg
were passionate supporters of Lyric Opera and sub-
scribed for more than 30 years. They were especially
supportive of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Opera Center and loved to watch these young artists
perform and grow at Lyric Opera. Jerry Nerenberg
and his wife Elaine passed away in 2005 and 2007,
respectively. In their wills, they established The Jerome
and Elaine Nerenberg Foundation, which was funded to make generous annual grants
to Lyric Opera for many years to come. Lyric is very appreciative of the Nerenbergs’
thoughtfulness and generosity in creating this planned gift.
Sonia Florian
NIB FOUNDATION
Founding owners/managers of former radio station WNIB, Sonia and
William Florian established the NIB Foundation to extend their support
to many worthwhile arts and environmental causes. The Florians are
devoted members of the Lyric family, having subscribed to Lyric for
more than three decades. The NIB Foundation continues to cosponsor
many mainstage productions, most recently
Tannhäuser
(2014/15) and
this season’s production of
Romeo and Juliet
. The Foundation made a
significant and deeply appreciated contribution to Lyric’s endowment,
establishing The NIB Foundation Italian Opera Endowed Chair, and the NIB Foundation
made major contributions to the Campaign for Excellence and the Breaking New Ground
Campaign. In addition to their magnanimous financial support, Mr. and Mrs. Florian and
the NIB Foundation gave their valuable collection of operatic and other vocal recordings to
Lyric, making Lyric’s Educational Library Collection one of the most extensive collections of
its kind in the country. Sonia Florian very generously provided a naming gift for the Florian
Opera Bistro located on the third floor of the Civic Opera House. Sonia Florian is a vital
member of Lyric’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Production Sponsorship
Committee, and was awarded the Carol Fox Award, Lyric’s most prestigious honor, in 2015
for her outstanding commitment to the company.
JOHN D. and ALEXANDRA C. NICHOLS
Longtime enthusiasts of arts and culture in Chicago, John
D. and Alexandra C. Nichols have steadfastly supported the
Annual Campaign, and are generous sponsors of the Renée
Fleming Initiative. By providing major support to Lyric’s
endowment, Mr. and Mrs. Nichols established the John D.
and Alexandra C. Nichols Music Director Endowed Chair.
Principal Dressing Room 110 is named in their honor due
to their very benevolent contribution to the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign.
Lyric Opera is extremely grateful for John and Alexandra Nichols’ significant leadership
contributions to both the Campaign for Excellence and the Breaking New Ground
Campaign, establishing the John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols Grand Staircase. Retired
Chairman and CEO of Illinois Tool Works and Retired Vice Chairman and CEO of
The Marmon Group, Inc., John Nichols is also a dedicated National Director of Lyric’s
Board of Directors. Lyric is immensely grateful for the unwavering generosity of John
and Alexandra Nichols.
Jana R. Schreuder
NORTHERN TRUST
A leading global financial services provider, Northern Trust has a
longstanding and significant relationship with Lyric. The company has
played a major role supporting the Annual Campaign, Facilities Fund,
Great Opera Fund, and Lyric Unlimited. Northern Trust provides
vital leadership contributions to Lyric as Presenting Sponsor of Wine
Auctions (2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018) and cospon-
sor of the Opera Ball (annually since 1998). In addition, Northern Trust
cosponsored
Faust
(2009/10),
Oklahoma!
(2012/13),
The Sound of Music
(2013/14), and this season’s
The King and I.
Lyric is honored to have Jana
R. Schreuder, Chief Operating Officer of Northern Trust, serve as a member of its Board
of Directors and Finance Committee,
and Northern Trust’s Retired Chairman
and CEO William A. Osborn serve as a
member of its Board of Directors and
Executive Committee.
NUVEEN INVESTMENTS
Nuveen Investments, represented by Lyric Board member John P.
Amboian, has been an enthusiastic supporter of Lyric Opera for
over three decades. Dedicated to developing the next generation of
opera lovers, Nuveen Investments has most recently cosponsored
Lyric Unlimited’s family productions
The Magic Victrola
(2014/15)
and
The Family Barber
(2013/14), has provided general support of
Lyric’s education and community engagement initiatives, and has
underwritten NEXT student
discount tickets. Nuveen Investments has also
cosponsored several mainstage opera productions,
Lyric’s Radio Broadcasts, and has recently
committed a leadership gift to the Breaking New
Ground Campaign.
Mark Thierer
OPTUMRX
As one of the country’s largest and most innovative pharmacy benefits
managers, Lyric Opera is grateful for OptumRx’s leadership support
of the Breaking New Ground Campaign. OptumRx, formerly
Catamaran, has also cosponsored Rising Stars in Concert, an annual
showcase of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center
Ensemble, for four consecutive seasons. Lyric is proud to have
OptumRx’s Chairman and CEO Mark Thierer serve on its Board of
Directors.
MR. and MRS. DAVID T. ORMESHER
Lyric Opera is sincerely grateful for the devotion of David and
Sheila Ormesher. David is founder and CEO of closerlook,
inc., a Chicago-based digital marketing agency serving the
pharmaceutical industry since 1987. closerlook has given
generously to Lyric Opera for many years, sponsoring Fantasy
of the Opera from 2009 to 2014 and the Stars of Lyric Opera
at Millennium Park concert for four consecutive years. David
and Sheila generously provided an Operathon Challenge Grant and supported the Opera
Ball this season. Lyric is proud to have David T. Ormesher serving as its President and CEO,
on the Executive Committee, and on seven sub-committees of the Board of Directors.
MR. and MRS. WILLIAM A. OSBORN
Bill and Cathy Osborn are devoted members of the
Lyric Opera family. They have subscribed to Lyric for
two decades and enjoy participating in special events
such as Opening Night/Opera Ball and Wine Auction.
The Osborns have generously contributed to the Annual
Campaign, the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign,
the Campaign for Excellence, the Breaking New Ground
Campaign, and Wine Auctions. Cathy Osborn, a valued member of Lyric’s Women’s
Board, was Co-Chairman of Lyric’s highly successful Wine Auction 2009, and
Chairman of Opera Ball 2013. William A. Osborn, Northern Trust’s Retired Chairman
and CEO, is a leading member of Lyric’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Dan Draper
POWERSHARES QQQ
PowerShares QQQ, represented by Dan Draper, Managing Director,
Invesco PowerShares Global ETFs, is proud to sponsor the arts as
a new corporate partner of Lyric Opera. For the 2015/16 season,
they will be cosponsoring the productions of
Cinderella
and
Romeo
and Juliet
. The PowerShares global network recognizes the value in
helping investors around the world,
but with headquarters in Downers
Grove, we also support Lyric Opera’s
deep engagement with the local community to foster a
rich culture of arts right here in Chicago.
John P. Amboian