Carmen

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A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T | 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7
February 11 - March 25, 2017 | 49
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), Romeo and Juliet (2015/16),
and this season’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor. 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 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. This season
John and Alexandra are a Diamond Record Sponsor of
the Chicago Voices Gala Benefit Concert. 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
Lyric is honored to have Jana R. Schreuder, chief operating
officer of Northern Trust, serve as a member of Lyric’s Board of
Directors, Executive and Finance committees, and William A.
Osborn, Northern Trust’s retired chairman and CEO, serve as a
member of Lyric’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
A leading global financial services provider, Northern Trust has
enjoyed a long-standing and significant relationship with Lyric.
Based in Chicago, the firm has played a major role supporting
the Annual Campaign, Facilities Fund, Great Opera Fund and Lyric Unlimited.
Northern Trust also provides vital leadership contributions to Lyric as presenting
sponsor of our wine auctions (2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018) and
as cosponsor of the Opera Ball (annually since 1998.) In addition, Northern Trust
cosponsored Faust (2009/10), Oklahoma!
(2012/13), The Sound of Music (2013/14),
The King and I (2015/16) and this season’s
My Fair Lady.
John P. Amboian
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 for 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.
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 five consecutive years. Most recently, David and Sheila generously
provided an Operathon Challenge Grant and supported the Opera Ball. Lyric
is proud to have David T. Ormesher serving as its Chairman of the Board of
Directors, 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.
Seymour H. Persky
SEYMOUR H. PERSKY CHARITABLE TRUST
The late Seymour H. Persky was an avid supporter of Lyric
Opera since its inception in 1954. Seymour was introduced
to Lyric through his lifelong friend and Lyric’s beloved public
relations director Danny Newman. In addition to his regular
annual support, Seymour made a special gift in support of
Lyric Unlimited’s Klezmer commission The Property in 2015,
combining his love of Klezmer music with his passion for Lyric.
Among his favorite Lyric memories, according to his family, were
arriving to Lyric’s Opening Night celebrations in antique cars from his collection.
Seymour’s favorite operas were Carmen, La bohème, and Tosca. His Charitable Trust
fittingly cosponsors this season’s production of Carmen in his memory.
Dan Draper
POWERSHARES QQQ
PowerShares QQQ, represented by Dan Draper, Managing
Director and Head of Global ETFs, PowerShares by Invesco, is
proud to sponsor the arts as a corporate partner of Lyric Opera.
Last season, they cosponsored the productions of Cinderella and
Romeo and Juliet, and they are generously cosponsoring Lyric’s
new production of The Magic Flutethis season. 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.