Porgy and Bess

A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T |

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Aria Society Spotlight 2014-2015 Season

Miles D. White

ABBOTT FUND

Abbott and the Abbott Fund are leading corporate

contributors to Lyric Opera of Chicago, with a longstanding

tradition of generous support. Over the last three decades,

Abbott has generously cosponsored 20 Lyric productions,

including the 2014/15 season-opening production of

Don

Giovanni

and last season’s

Otello

. Abbott has championed

Lyric’s achievements as a contributor to the Great Opera

Fund, the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, and

Wine Auctions, among other efforts. Lyric is

honored to have Abbott’s Chairman and Chief

Executive Officer, Miles D. White, serve on its

Board of Directors.

KATHERINE A. ABELSON and

ROBERT J. CORNELL

Kathy Abelson and Robert Cornell are

longtime friends of Lyric Opera. Kathy

comes from generations of opera lovers

and is a former singer, having trained with

some of the best voice teachers in the world,

including Elvira de Hidalgo, who taught

Maria Callas. Kathy has been a donor and a season subscriber to Lyric since

1977. Deeply committed to Lyric Opera’s renowned artist development program,

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Kathy is a Past President

and current member of the Ryan Opera Center Board, in addition to being a

leadership donor to the Ryan Opera Center for over twenty years. Lyric is also

honored to have Kathy Abelson on its Board of Directors. This season Kathy and

Robert are generously supporting the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond

Ball as Emerald Gala Patrons.

Franco Tedeschi

AMERICAN AIRLINES

This season we celebrate 33 years of vital corporate part-

nership with American Airlines, the Official Airline of Lyric

Opera. In recognition of the company’s significant contribu-

tion to the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the

mezzanine level of the Civic Opera House is named the

American Airlines Mezzanine. American Airlines provides

important in-kind support for Lyric’s programs and special

events such as the Annual Meeting, Fantasy of the Opera, Operathon, The

Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center National Auditions, and the Wine

Auction. Franco Tedeschi, Vice President

of American Airlines, proudly serves on

Lyric’s Board of Directors.

ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTORS

Lyric Opera is extremely grateful for Aria Society support received from seven

anonymous contributors during the 2014/15 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 cosponsors

of Rising Stars in Concert, and sponsors

of the Ryan Opera Center Recital Series

on 98.7 WFMT. They have cosponsored numerous productions including, most

recently,

Simon Boccanegra

(2012/13) and

La Clemenza di Tito

(2013/14). This

season, Julie and Roger Baskes generously cosponsor

Trovatore

. 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, Executive, and Production Sponsorship Committees, and

as immediate past President of the Ryan Opera Center Board.

JAMES N. and LAURIE V. BAY

Jim and Laurie Bay are passionate sup-

porters of the arts in Chicago. They

have previously contributed to Lyric’s

Wine Auction, Stars of Lyric Opera at

Millennium Park, Annual Campaign, and

education programs. They also cospon-

sored

Madama Butterfly

(2013/14). This

season, the Bays are supporting the Wine Auction and are Emerald Patrons

of the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball. 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) and

Parsifal

(2013/14) and this season generously cosponsors Lyric’s

new production of

Tosca.

Marlys has also made a leadership commit-

ment to cosponsor Lyric’s new productions of

Das Rheingold

(2016/17) and

Götterdämmerung

(2019/20), part of Lyric’s new

Ring Cycle.

MELVIN R. and RANDY L. BERLIN

Devoted fans of opera education and

the arts, Melvin and Randy Berlin are

vital members of the Lyric Opera fam-

ily. They have contributed significantly to

the Annual Campaign and are Diamond

Sponsors of the 60th Anniversary Concert

and Diamond Ball this season. Melvin and

Randy have cosponsored several productions such as

Simon Boccanegra

(2012/13) and

The Barber of Seville

(2013/14). Melvin and Randy generously

cosponsor this season’s new production of

Don Giovanni

. Lyric is honored to

have Melvin Berlin serve on its Board of Directors.

HENRY M. and GILDA R.

BUCHBINDER

Committed lovers of the arts, Henry

and Gilda Buchbinder are longstand-

ing members of the Lyric Opera family.

The Buchbinders have contributed to the

future of Lyric Opera by making a leader-

ship gift to Lyric’s Breaking New Ground

Campaign. They have also been long-time generous donors to the Annual

Campaign, including sponsoring their first production,

Boris Godunov

(2011/12).

This season, they are supporting the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond

Ball as Emerald Patrons. Lyric is honored to have Gilda Buchbinder serve on its

Board of Directors and the Nominating/Governance Committee.