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Chicago Opera Theater Spring Gala |
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Trustees of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, James Alexander and Anita Tyson of JPMorgan Chase receive an engraved memento from Tiffany & Co. from COT Board trustee and 2010 Gala Master of Ceremonies Henry Fogel.
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Chicago Opera Theater (COT) raised over $235,000 at their Gala “Opera Among the Stars” held on March 13, 2009 at The Mid-America Club in Chicago. This year’s Gala was held in honor of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust for their continued support of Chicago Opera Theater. Over 340 guests attended an unforgettable evening high up on the 80th floor of the Aon Building. Henry Fogel, COT Board Trustee and Dean of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, was the Master of Ceremonies and soprano Danielle de Niese was the evening’s featured performer.
The event began with a cocktail hour and silent auction which featured over 100 packages which guests bid on exclusively online. Moreover, guests who could not attend the Gala were able to bid on packages before the Gala! The evening continued to the Burnham Ballroom, with its stunning panoramic view of the Chicago skyline. COT General Director Brian Dickie welcomed the guests and introduced the evening’s Master of Ceremonies Henry Fogel, who honored The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust for their support not only of COT but of numerous organizations in Chicago. He then presented trustees of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, James Alexander and Anita Tyson of JPMorgan Chase with an engraved memento from Tiffany & Co.
Seeking to cultivate the spirit of philanthropy, Opera Underground—COT’s young professionals club—invited young professionals ages 21-45 to attend the Gala at a reduced rate that included Danielle de Niese’s performance as well as the cocktail and dancing portions of the evening. Approximately 60 young professional guests took advantage of this exciting opportunity!
Auctioneer Steven J. Zick, Vice President and Head of Office of Christie’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Chicago, led the live auction which featured a fully loaded travel package to Spring Creek Ranch Mountain Villas, 18K gold bracelet featuring a rainbow of 38 straight baguette cut colored gemstones from M.J. Miller & Co., a catered cocktail party at the home of a COT Board Member including a private performance by the award-winning International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), an all-access pass to COT’s 2010 Spring Festival Season, and the first dance with Danielle de Niese!
Soprano Danielle de Niese was the featured performer of the evening. Her dazzling performance delighted the crowd and included selections from Cole Porter, Georges Bizet and Frans Lehar. Ms. de Niese made her debut in Chicago in 2004 with Chicago Opera Theater in the title role of L’incoronazione di Poppea and is currently performing the role of Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Guests finished off the evening dancing to live music from the Matt Lewis Band.
The evening’s sponsors included: RGBLights, William Hill Estate Winery, and New Amsterdam Gin — the sponsor of COT’s signature drink the “Operatini.”
The 2010 Annual Gala was presented in anticipation and support of Chicago Opera Theater’s 2010 Spring Festival Season. The season opens with Rossini’s Moses in Egypt (April 17-25), followed by the Chicago Premiere of Cavalli’s Jason (Giasone) (April 24-May 2), and closes with Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in her final Chicago opera performances before her retirement (May 8-16). On May 10th, COT will also present “An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie.”
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COT General Director Brian Dickie, Elizabeth M. Bennan and COT Board trustee/2010 Gala Committee member Lincoln S. Ellis.
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Danielle de Niese performs at Chicago Opera Theater's 2010 Gala.
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Nell Dickie and COT General Director Brian Dickie dance behind Danielle de Niese and Brad DeBori.
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COT Board trustee Robert Marks, Ann Connors, Maestro Kirk Muspratt and Susan Stein.
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COT Board trustee and 2010 Gala Committee member Lois B. Siegel and Gloria Williams.
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COT Board trustee and 2010 Gala Committee Member Gregory O'Leary, Ann Anderson, Pat Kenney, Pat Anderson.
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Rick Cohen and COT Board trustee Bennett Neuman.
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Director Andrew Eggert of New York and COT Board trustee Julie E. Green.
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Senior Director of Major Gifts Kim Swinton and General Manager Peter Calibraro at Goodman Theatre, Chicago.
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Jeffery Arnold and Nicole Arnold of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust.
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Auctioneer Steve Zick of Christie’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Chicago with Ann Blickensderfer and Mike Stockreiter.
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Cynthia Van Osdol, Dr. Arnold Tobin and Dr. Eva Lichtenberg.
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Hugues Delannoy and Camille Delannoy.
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Shelley Sather and David McGaw.
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Stefen Lippitz and Todd Johnson.
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Jenny Gerow, Allison Ashmore, and Morgan Walsh.
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COT General Director Brian Dickie and James Alexander of The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust.
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Conductor Francesco Milioto and Lydsey Baker.
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COT Manager of Institutional Giving Rebecca Hill and COT General Manager Roger Weitz prepare to welcome guests at the Mid-America Club.
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| Photos:
Liz Lauren |
