Lyric Opera 2018-2019 Issue 4 Siegfried

A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T | 2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9 November 3 - 16, 2018 | 49 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 The Pearl Fishers and this season’s Elektra . They 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. There 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. They were especially supportive of The 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 The 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. The 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. They 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 The 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. Jana R. Schreuder NORTHERN TRUST Lyric is honored to have Jana R. Schreuder, retired 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 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 . "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?”. The Ogilvy Chicago team was tasked with changing the perception of Lyric to make it more appealing and accessible to millennials. They needed to highlight the “all too human” core of opera in a different, more compelling, and contemporary way. The 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. They have subscribed to Lyric for over 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 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.