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 | 51
Larry A. Barden
SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP
A leader in the international legal arena, the law firm of Sidley
Austin is a generous corporate contributor to arts and culture in
Chicago. Lyric deeply appreciates Sidley Austin’s cosponsorship
of Lyric’s new productions of Orfeo ed Euridice (2005/06),
Lulu (2008/09), Hercules (2010/11), Werther (2012/13), Rusalka
(2013/14), and The Passenger (2014/15). Additionally, Sidley
Austin has supported Operathon, Fantasy of the Opera, and the
Annual Campaign. This season, Sidley Austin LLP generously
cosponsors Lyric’s company premiere of Les Troyens. Lyric is proud to have Larry A.
Barden, chair of the firm's Management Committee and
member of the firm's Executive Committee since 1999,
on its Board of Directors and Compensation Committee.
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. Liz Stiffel was the Lead
Sponsor of the Renée Fleming Subscriber Appreciation Concert
(2010/11), the Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert
(2013/14), and last season’s See Jane Sing, and she is generously
underwriting the appearance of Lyric’s world premiere Bel Canto
on PBS Great Performances. 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. She has cosponsored
several mainstage productions, most recently Carousel (2014/15), and this season’s
productions of Das Rheingold and My Fair Lady. Liz Stiffel has also committed a
generous leadership gift in support of Lyric’s Chicago Voices Gala.
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), The King
and I (2015/16), and this season’s My Fair Lady. 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 Vice President and 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. Mr. Vance was awarded
the 2016 Carol Fox Award, Lyric’s most prestigious honor, in recognition of his
leadership, steadfast support, and many years of devoted service to Lyric Opera.
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 Lyric premiere of Les Troyens,
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
is funding research and analysis of Lyric Opera
audiences, and will 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 new production of The Magic Flute. Lyric is
honored to have Roberta Washlow as an esteemed member of its Board of Directors
and Lyric Unlimited Committee.
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 for many years. They were essential in
bringing new work to Lyric last season, underwriting the
world premiere of Bel Canto. Helen and Sam Zell have
previously cosponsored several new productions, most
recently La Traviata (2013/14), The Passenger (2014/15), and Bel Canto (2015/16),
and this season are generous cosponsors of Lyric’s new production of Das Rheingold.