President’s Letter

I write today to you from Brussels, where I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my fellow trip participants.  A busy schedule will engage our minds and hearts over the next couple of days and we will look forward to sharing this trip with all of you.

As another wonderful season draws to a close, our attention turns to Lyric’s energetic and relevant production of West Side Story. The West Side Story Celebration, chaired by Anne Edwards on Friday, May 10, was a success of truly operatic proportions.

On Wednesday, May 29, at Amelia Silva’s recommendation, we hosted the Women’s Boards of the Ravinia Festival, The Joffrey Ballet, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Alliance Française for a behind-the-scenes tour, luncheon, and performance of West Side Story.

The Women’s Board Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 4, and I look forward to seeing all of you there. It will be a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year, and Bonnie Pritchard has planned a lovely luncheon for us.

Ellen O’Connor and Elizabeth Cole are just beginning work on Opening Night Opera Ball. This will be our final Opera Ball to take place at the Hilton, and I think that Ellen and Elizabeth are the perfect mother-daughter duo to carry out the traditional format of this Women’s Board signature event.

I would be remiss if I did not thank our wonderful staff: Kate Later, Leah Bobbey, Teresa Fleming and Devin Bopp.  We could not accomplish all that we do without their support. And I’d like to wish the happiest of birthdays to all our Board members who celebrated another year this Spring!

May 17 - Katherine Harvey

May 19 - Carol Segal

May 22 - Diane Mayer

May 25 - Jane Gargiulo

May 27 - Anne Reyes

May 28 - Corinne Wood

May 29 - Suzanne Mulshine

June 4 - Cathy Osborn

We are also excited to announce the birth of George Booth Knight, son of Kirsten and Chase Knight, and grandson of our own Becky and Lester Knight. George arrived on Wednesday, May 1. Please join me in congratulating the Knights on this new member of their family!

Thank you to everyone who has supported the events hosted by the Women’s Board this year. Your generosity made such a difference for the programs and productions Lyric was able to share with audiences this season. If you have not yet made a contribution to Lyric’s Annual Campaign, please consider donating today.