Carmen

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L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
44 | February 11 - March 25, 2017
CAROLYN S. BUCKSBAUM
Lyric Opera sincerely appreciates the extraordinary leadership and
generosity of Kay Bucksbaum. An avid subscriber and longtime
patron of Lyric with her late husband Matthew, the Bucksbaum
Family’s very generous challenge grant re-established Lyric’s
regional and national/international radio broadcasts in 2006.
Kay’s incredible continued matching support makes possible The
Lyric Opera Broadcasts, which draw 16 million listeners annually.
“Lyric is a great national institution,” Matthew once said, “and it gives our family
great pleasure to know these broadcasts bring Lyric’s wonderful performances to so
many in Chicago and around the globe.”
John and Jackie Bucksbaum
THE JOHN and JACOLYN BUCKSBAUM
FOUNDATION
Passionate philanthropists in the Chicago community,
John and Jackie Bucksbaum are major supporters of
the arts. John Bucksbaum is founder and CEO of
Bucksbaum Retail Properties, LLC, a fully-integrated
owner and developer of retail real estate. This season,
John and Jackie, with their family, generously provide
matching funding for The Lyric Opera Broadcasts,
which air on 98.7WFMT live during each opening night performance.
Allan E. Bulley, III
BULLEY & ANDREWS
Founded 1891, Bulley & Andrews is one of the Midwest’s most
trusted and accomplished construction companies. The fourth
generation, family-owned firm offers clients a full-range of
construction services including general contracting, construction
management, design/build, and masonry and concrete restoration.
Bulley & Andrews has, for many seasons, supported Lyric
Unlimited’s Performances for Students program and this season
serves as cosponsor of Das Rheingold.
Lyric Opera is pleased to have Allan E. Bulley, III as a
member of its Board of Directors.
MARION A. CAMERON
Lyric is sincerely honored to have the support and leadership of
Marion A. Cameron. A subscriber and donor for over 20 years,
Lyric gratefully acknowledges her outstanding generosity through
her leadership gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign, her
cosponsorship of Rusalka (2013/14), and her additional gift in
support of Tannhäuser (2014/15). This season she generously
cosponsors Lyric’s production of Eugene Onegin. Ms. Cameron
is the CEO of Sipi Metals Corp., which continues to support the widely popular
Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert. Marion Cameron is a member
of Lyric’s Board of Directors, Executive and Finance Committees, and Chair of the
Investment Committee.
DAVID and ORIT CARPENTER
David and Orit Carpenter have been staunch supporters
of Lyric Opera for many years, and have recently
made a generous planned gift to the Breaking New
Ground Campaign to help ensure that Lyric will be
available for many future generations to enjoy. In
addition to their longtime personal support of Lyric’s
Annual Campaign, David Carpenter has helped secure
numerous production cosponsorships, including this season's company premiere of
Les Troyens, through Sidley Austin LLP, where he was a Partner for more than 30
years. Lyric is honored to have David serve on its Board of Directors and Production
Sponsorship Committee.
Elizabeth F. Cheney
THE ELIZABETH F. CHENEY FOUNDATION
Lyric Opera remains deeply grateful for the longterm generosity
of The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, one of Chicago’s
nonprofit leaders in arts support. The Cheney Foundation has
made an enhanced multi-year commitment to the Ryan Opera
Center/Lyric Opera. During the 2016/17 season, The Cheney
Foundation is supporting Guest Master Teacher and Artist
residencies; the Director of Vocal Studies faculty position; access
to a behind-the-scenes view of the Ensemble selection process
by opening the Ryan Opera Center’s Final Auditions to a greater number of Lyric
donors and subscribers for the fourth year; and singer sponsorship of bass Bradley
Smoak. Lyric Opera is honored to have as a major supporter The Elizabeth F.
Cheney Foundation, whose directors are committed to celebrating Ms. Cheney’s
legacy through the philanthropic support of the arts.
NELSON D. CORNELIUS PRODUCTION
ENDOWMENT FUND
Nelson Cornelius was a longtime subscriber and supporter of
Lyric Opera and a cherished friend of legendary former Lyric
Opera General Director Ardis Krainik, with whom he shared
his passion for opera and for making sure that Lyric would
keep Chicago on the world’s opera map. That passion was also
shared by Julius Frankel, and as a trustee of the Julius Frankel
Foundation for many years, Mr. Cornelius fulfilled Mr. Frankel’s wishes by
directing significant Foundation support to Lyric Opera’s Annual Campaign and
production cosponsorship. Mr. Cornelius was also personally generous, supporting
Lyric’s Annual Campaign. His legacy created the Nelson D. Cornelius Production
Endowment Fund, which this year cosponsors the Lyric premiere of Les Troyens.
Lyric is honored to remember its close friend Nelson Cornelius.
MR. and MRS. JOHN V. CROWE
Jack and Peggy Crowe are generous and passionate
members of the Lyric family, evidenced by their
production sponsorship of Turandot (2006/07) and
Tosca (2009/10) and major support of the Breaking New
Ground Campaign and the Renée Fleming Initiative.
Jack and Peggy Crowe’s significant contribution to Lyric
was recognized in naming the Isabelle Cavagnaro Crowe
Foyer on the fifth floor in memory of Jack Crowe’s mother. The Crowes were
leading contributors to the Campaign for Excellence and the Building on Greatness
Capital Campaign. Lyric is very fortunate to have Jack Crowe as an esteemed
member of the Executive Committee of Lyric’s Board of Directors.
Lester and Renée Crown
THE CROWN FAMILY
Two of Chicago’s leading philanthropists, Renée and
Lester Crown, are devoted patrons of Lyric Opera.
The Crown Family is a sponsor of the Renée Fleming
Initiative and made a generous commitment to Lyric’s
Breaking New Ground Campaign. They have also
made major contributions to the Annual Campaign, the
Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the Campaign
for Excellence, and the Great Opera Fund. This season,
the Crown Family is a Diamond Record Sponsor of the Chicago Voices Gala Benefit
Concert. Mrs. Crown is a past President of the Women’s Board. Mr. Crown joined
Lyric’s Board of Directors in 1977 and has served as Chairman of the Executive
Committee ever since. In 2004, Renée and Lester Crown were recipients of the
Carol Fox Award, presented in recognition of their outstanding leadership and
commitment to Lyric. Lyric is also honored to have Mrs. Nancy Carrington Crown
serve on its esteemed Women’s Board. Lyric is forever indebted to The Crown
Family for their many years of dedicated service to Lyric Opera of Chicago.
THE DAVEE FOUNDATION
Lyric Opera is extremely grateful to The Davee Foundation and the late Ruth
Dunbar and Ken M. Davee for their tremendous generosity over the years. The
Foundation’s exemplary support of Chicago-area charities reflects the Davees’ wide-
ranging interests, including their great love of music and the arts. Lyric Opera is
fortunate to be among the organizations benefiting from The Davee Foundation’s
enduring philanthropy, which helps secure Lyric’s future for generations to come.
Recently, The Davee Foundation provided critical support to enhance amplification
and sound systems used in the American Musical Theater Initiative. The Foundation
has generously cosponsored Lyric premieres of Oklahoma! (2012/13), The Sound of
Music (2013/14), Carousel (2014/15), The King and I (2015/16), and this season’s
My Fair Lady.