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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 2 - 22, 2019
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SYLVIA NEIL and DANIEL FISCHEL
Sylvia and Dan have been loyal Lyric Opera subscribers
and donors for many years, and have cosponsored several
mainstage opera productions, including last season’s
e Pearl Fishers
and this season’s
Elektra
. ey made a
generous gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign
to help secure Lyric’s future. “It has been very enjoyable
to become part of the Lyric family and to give back to a
place that has given us so much pleasure. ere have been many moments for both
Dan and me when we have said, tonight is incredible, it is one of the memorable
performances of our lifetime. Lyric Opera of Chicago is an international star and it
is evidenced by the people who choose to be involved here.” Lyric is honored to have
Sylvia Neil serve on its Board of Directors, Executive, 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
subscribed for more than 30 years. ey were
especially supportive of e 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 e 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 the late William Florian established the NIB Foundation to
extend their support to many worthwhile arts and environmental
causes. Sonia is a devoted member of the Lyric family, having
subscribed to Lyric for more than four decades. e NIB
Foundation continues to cosponsor many mainstage productions
including this season’s production of
Cendrillon
and Anna
Netrebko in recital, and made a major commitment to 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 Lyric 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. 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. ey have also provided a generous gift
endowing Lyric's Music Director position, the John D. and Alexandra C. Nichols
Endowed Chair, currently held by Sir Andrew Davis. Retired Chairman and CEO
of Illinois Tool Works and Retired Vice Chairman and CEO of e Marmon
Group, Inc., John Nichols is also a dedicated National Director of Lyric’s Board
of Directors. “Our involvement with the opera company is a deeply rewarding
experience for both of us”, John said. Lyric is immensely grateful for the unwavering
generosity of John and Alexandra Nichols.
NORTHERN TRUST
A leading global financial services provider, Northern Trust has enjoyed a
longstanding and significant relationship with Lyric. Based in Chicago, the firm
has played a major role supporting the Annual Campaign and Lyric Unlimited.
Northern Trust also provides vital leadership contributions to Lyric as presenting
sponsor of the triennial Wine Auction since 2000, and as cosponsor of the Opera
Ball (annually since 1998). In addition, Northern Trust has cosponsored several
mainstage productions including this season’s West Side Story. Lyric is honored
to have William A. Osborn, Northern Trust’s retired chairman and CEO, serve as
a member of Lyric’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. "Being a good
corporate citizen is very important," William
Osborn once said. "It allows us to do our
part to help keep the City of Chicago strong
and viable and, in the end, this is beneficial
to everyone."
OGILVY
Ogilvy is one doorway to a creative network, re-founded to make brands matter
in a complex, noisy, hyper-connected world. Lyric is grateful for the significant
in-kind contribution in 2018 to launch a new marketing campaign “Are You Opera
Enough?”. e Ogilvy Chicago team was tasked with changing the perception of Lyric
to make it more appealing and accessible to millennials. ey needed to highlight the
“all too human” core of opera in a different, more compelling, and contemporary way.
e resulting series of print, poster, and billboard adverts illustrated the interesting
cultural and historical aspects of opera. Ogilvy Chicago’s
informative and humorous execution of the campaign
provided prospective opera goers with a large set of tools
to not be intimidated by their first experience, and to
better understand any aspect of the opera art form.
MR. and MRS. DAVID T. ORMESHER
Lyric 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 seven consecutive
years. Most recently, David and Sheila generously provided an Operathon Challenge
Grant, supported the Opera Ball, and made a leadership gift towards the Breaking
New Ground Campaign. Lyric is proud to have David T. Ormesher serving as its
Chairman of the Board of Directors, on the Executive Committee, and on all sub-
committees of the Board.
MR. and MRS. WILLIAM A. OSBORN
Bill and Cathy Osborn are devoted members of the Lyric
Opera family. ey have subscribed to Lyric for over
two decades and enjoy participating in special events
such as Opening Night/Opera Ball and Wine Auction.
e Osborns have generously contributed to the Annual
Campaign and the Breaking New Ground Campaign.
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.