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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 17 - March 16, 2018
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Miles D. White
ABBOTT FUND
Abbott and the Abbott Fund are leading corporate contributors
to Lyric Opera of Chicago, with a longstanding tradition of
dedicated support. Over the last three decades, Abbott has
generously cosponsored 23 Lyric productions, including this
season’s new production of
Orphée et Eurydice
, Lyric’s first
collaboration with The Joffrey Ballet. Abbott has championed
Lyric’s achievements by making a leadership commitment to the
Breaking New Ground Campaign. “The Lyric is one of the treasures that make
Chicago the world-class city that it is. We’re proud to be associated with it.” says
Miles D. White, Abbott’s Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer and a valued member of Lyric’s
Board of Directors.
ADA and WHITNEY ADDINGTON
Ada and Whitney Addington are dedicated Lyric
subscribers and donors. They have contributed generously
to the Annual Campaign and the Breaking New Ground
Campaign, and have made a leadership gift in support
of Lyric’s new
Ring
cycle, including this season’s
Die
Walküre
. The Addingtons have also invested in the
company’s future through their planned gift to Lyric.
Lyric is fortunate to have Dr. Whitney Addington as a member of its Board of
Directors and Executive Committee.
Franco Tedeschi
AMERICAN AIRLINES
This season we celebrate 36 years of vital corporate partnership
with American Airlines, the Official Airline of Lyric Opera.
In recognition of the company’s significant contribution to
the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the mezzanine
level of the Lyric Opera House is named the American Airlines
Mezzanine. American Airlines provides important in-kind
support for Lyric’s programs and
special events. Franco Tedeschi, Vice President of
American Airlines, proudly serves on Lyric’s Board
of Directors and Lyric Unlimited Committee.
PAUL M. ANGELL FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation strives to advance society through the
performing arts, conservation of the world’s oceans, and alleviation of poverty. The
Foundation’s namesake, Paul M. Angell, founder of Newly Weds Foods, dedicated
the early part of his life to serving his country and performing as a member of John
Philip Sousa’s U.S. Navy Band during World War I. He believed in hard work,
self reliance, and optimism, and the Foundation is intended to honor him and his
ideals. At Lyric, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation has been a loyal supporter
of Lyric’s Annual Campaign and Lyric Unlimited programming and has generously
committed to a high level of multi-year support.
ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTORS
Lyric Opera is extremely grateful for Aria Society support received from six
anonymous contributors during the 2017/18 season.
JULIE and ROGER BASKES
Lyric treasures the exemplary leadership and dedication
of Julie and Roger Baskes. Subscribers for more than
three decades, they have generously supported Lyric’s
Ryan Opera Center activities as previous cosponsors of
Rising Stars in Concert, and currently underwrite the
Ryan Opera Center Recital Series on 98.7WFMT. They
have cosponsored numerous productions including, most recently, last season’s
Norma
and this season’s
Rigoletto
. They also made a leadership commitment to
the Breaking New Ground Campaign to help safeguard the future of Lyric Opera.
Lyric is honored to have Julie Baskes serve on its Board of Directors and Executive
Committee. Julie is also Chairman of the Production Sponsorship Committee, and
is a past President of the Ryan Opera Center Board.
JAMES N. and LAURIE V. BAY
Jim and Laurie Bay are passionate supporters of the
arts in Chicago and have been members of the Lyric
Opera family for more than three decades. Generous
donors to Lyric Opera, they have supported Lyric's
past Wine Auctions, Annual Campaigns, and education
programs. They made a leadership gift to the Breaking
New Ground Campaign and were sponsors of Lyric's 60th Anniversary Gala and
Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park in 2013. Jim and Laurie have generously
cosponsored Lyric productions of
Madama Butterfly
in 2014, last season's
Carmen
,
are lead individual sponsors of
Ladies' Choice
, and are cosponsors of the
Celebrating
100 Years of Bernstein
concert. Lyric is honored to have Jim Bay, a principal of Bays
Corporation, serve on its Board of Directors and Compensation Committee.
MARLYS A. BEIDER
As an aficionada of Lyric for more than 30 years, Marlys has
contributed to the Annual Campaign and is a Bel Canto
Benefactor of the planned giving Overture Society. Her planned
gift commitment created the Marlys Beider Wigmaster and
Makeup Designer Endowed Chair in memory of her late
husband, Harold Beider. Marlys Beider cosponsored several
productions including
Elektra
(2012/13),
Parsifal
(2013/14)
and
Tosca
(2014/15), and has committed generous leadership gifts to cosponsor
Lyric’s new productions of last season’s
Das Rheingold
and
Götterdämmerung
(2019/20), part of Lyric’s new
Ring
cycle.
RANDY L. and MELVIN R. BERLIN
Devoted fans of opera education and the arts, Melvin
and Randy Berlin are vital members of the Lyric Opera
family. “It’s part of Chicago for us. It enriches the city
and the community, and we like to be part of that,” says
Melvin. The Berlins have contributed significantly to
the Annual Campaign and made a leadership gift to the
Breaking New Ground Campaign. Melvin and Randy
have cosponsored several productions including last season’s
The Magic Flute
and
this season’s
Così fan tutte
. Lyric is honored to have Melvin Berlin serve on its Board
of Directors.
Alexandra
Dousmanis-Curtis
BMO HARRIS BANK
BMO Harris Bank is a proud supporter of Lyric Opera. BMO,
which is celebrating its bicentennial this year, has demonstrated
its strong commitment to supporting the communities it serves
for the past 200 years. BMO has generously supported special
projects through Lyric’s Annual Campaign, most recently as the
Exclusive Sponsor of both the Plácido Domingo and Ana María
Martínez Concert (2015/16) and the Celebrating Plácido Concert
(2016/17). Lyric is honored to have Alexandra Dousmanis-Curtis,
Group Head, U.S. Retail and Business Banking, BMO Harris Bank, serve on its
Board of Directors and Investment Committee. “Opera is truly an inspiration.
It affects how we see and interpret the world
around us, and it’s our hope that the support we
provide Lyric will help increase exposure to such a
beautiful form of artistic expression.”
Dan Grossman
BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is the world’s leading
advisor on business strategy. Lyric Opera is extremely grateful for
their support and dedication this season in offering their pro bono
services to help Lyric to better understand our financial model,
and to identify creative and promising paths to growth. Lyric
Opera is honored to have Dan
Grossman, Partner &Managing
Director, on the Lyric Board
of Directors and Finance Committee.