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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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October 6 - 20, 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 24 Lyric productions, including this
season’s new coproduction of
La bohème
. Abbott has championed
Lyric’s achievements by making a leadership commitment to the
Breaking New Ground Campaign. “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
Siegfried
.
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 37 years of vital corporate partnership
with American Airlines, the Official Airline of Lyric Opera of
Chicago. 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 ten
anonymous contributors during the 2018/19 season.
AVRAMOVICH CHARITABLE TRUST
Michael and Susan Avramovich were ardent supporters of theater,
opera, and classical music in Chicago. Longtime subscribers,
the Lyric was a special favorite. Michael had deep roots in Italy,
and his mother, Margherita, was from Rome. In a salute to
that heritage and to many years of Lyric, the Trust is pleased to
cosponsor
La bohème
and
La traviata
this season.
JULIE and ROGER BASKES
Lyric treasures the exemplary leadership and dedication
of Julie and Roger Baskes. Subscribers for more than
four 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
Rigoletto
and this season's
Elektra
. 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.
MARLYS A. BEIDER
As an aficionada of Lyric for more than 30 years, Marlys has con-
tributed to the Annual Campaign and is a Bel Canto Benefactor
of the planned giving Overture Society. Her planned gift com-
mitment 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 two of Lyric’s new
Ring
cycle
productions including
Das Rheingold
(2016/17) and next season's
Götterdämmerung
.
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
Cosi fan tutte
and this season's
West Side Story
.
Lyric is honored to have Melvin Berlin serve on its Board of Directors.
Richard Pomeroy
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 and is proud to join
the production sponsorship family supporting this season's
La
traviata
. Lyric is honored to have Richard “Rick” Pomeroy, Senior
Managing Director, CTC | my CFO, 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 beauti-
ful form of artistic expression.”
HENRY M. and GILDA R. BUCHBINDER
Dedicated lovers of the arts, Henry and Gilda Buchbinder
are longstanding members of the Lyric Opera family.
Committed to sustaining the exceptional quality of Lyric’s
artistic product, the Buchbinders made a leadership gift
to Lyric’s Breaking New Ground Campaign to name
the Henry and Gilda Buchbinder Family Foundation
Rehearsal Room. They have also been longtime generous
donors to the Annual Campaign, and are cosponsors of this season’s production of
Il trovatore.
“I really do believe that Lyric is the best opera company in the world,” is
Gilda’s heartfelt assessment, to which Hank adds, “the productions are done so well,
and stage sets are marvelous.” Lyric is honored to have Gilda Buchbinder serve on its
Board of Directors and the Production Sponsorship Committee.