Chicago Symphony Orchestra raises over $1 million at its Symphony Ball

On Saturday, September 23, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra hosted its largest annual fundraiser, the Symphony Ball, to celebrate its 133rd season. Put on by the Women’s Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, the glitzy spectacle raised over $1 million with a sold-out concert and postconcert gala that welcomed over 400 guests. 

Upon arrival, guests could take photos on the red carpet outside of the symphony hall on Michigan Avenue. A champagne toast preceded the concert and Riccardo Muti led the CSO. Earlier this month, Muti accepted his new role of Music Director Emeritus for Life and was honored for the title on-stage. 

A spectacular performance moved the crowd from world-renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos. Kavakos is no stranger to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, having performed five other times in the past with the ensemble, the earliest dating back to 1989. As a highly recognized artist, he has developed close ties with some of the world’s most prominent orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and London Symphony Orchestra. Kavakos has also made a name for himself as a conductor, having led the New York Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.  

During the Symphony Ball performance, Kavakos played Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, accompanied by the CSO. In the last four performances of the night, the CSO played selections from Italian opera, including Giordano’s Intermezzo from Fedora, Puccini’s Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut, Leoncavallo’s Intermezzo from Pagliacci, and Verdi’s Overture to Giovanna d’Arco.

The postconcert gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago 

Following the concert, guests were shuttled to the breathtaking Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. The evening started inside the glamorous upstairs area outside the hotel’s ballroom, where guests could mingle with musicians from the symphony, sip on cocktails, and have their photos taken. A quartet from the symphony also performed until the doors opened for dinner. 

Decorated with autumn hues and elegant floral arrangements by VH Designs, the ballroom was an absolute showstopper. Guests enjoyed a lavish dinner, including a first-course salad with roasted butternut squash, mesclun lettuce and baby kale, candied hazelnuts, dried cranberries, parmesan, balsamic vinaigrette, and balsamic pearls. For the entree, a succulent sea salt roasted filet of beef with chianti reduction and lobster was served alongside a mouthwatering crab cake with lobster butter, sundried tomato risotto, and assorted vegetables. 

Dessert included a chocolate pot au crème, apple crumble, and assorted berries in a cookie basket. Served alongside dinner were two wines, including a French Louis Latour Mâcon-Lugny Les Genièvres and an Italian Pio Cesare Barbera d’Alba.

The CSO’s notable impact on Chicago

CSOA President Jeff Alexander and John Fumagalli of Northern Trust, the evening’s presenting sponsor, both gave speeches during dinner. The latter shared how Northern Trust has long supported the symphony since 1891, only two years after the ensemble’s founding in 1889.

CSO cellist Brant Taylor gave a heartwarming speech about the symphony’s positive impact on Chicago’s many communities. With a touching video playing alongside his remarks, he particularly focused on how the symphony educates young children in schools without music programs. Additionally, Taylor went on to explain how much of an impact he and other symphony members have made while mentoring young musicians from the Civic Orchestra. Taylor stated that the CSO has trained 450 of these musicians throughout this year alone as Civic Orchestra participants work their way up to becoming professional artists. 

“More than $5 million is invested each season in these programs that reach more than 200,000 people every year, both through in-person programs and online video content,” Taylor said during his speech. “Helping us meet the fundraiser goal of this event means you’re a part of transforming the city we love and the wider world through music.” 

Through the CSO’s education and community engagement department, called the Negaunee Music Institute, CSO and Civic Orchestra members have performed at forty schools and have put on 125 concerts in various Chicago neighborhoods, 75% of which are free. With even broader School Concerts that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has put on, it has reached over 100 Chicago-area schools and 20,000 students. 

All of the funds raised from the Symphony Ball will go towards the symphony’s artistic, educational and community engagement programs. To learn more about the Symphony Ball, read the CSO’s Program Book.