Bravissimo! Colorado Symphony Celebrates 100 Years At Centennial Gala
How great is it to celebrate your centennial anniversary in the Centennial State? Ask the Colorado Symphony. The orchestra’s galas have typically featured a crowd-pleasing mix of classical excellence and dramatic flair to the tune of a specific theme. This year’s Centennial Gala did not disappoint. You knew it would be a fun evening with a dress code that suggested tweaking traditional black-tie attire with “Colorful Colorado” hues to honor our state’s vibrant landscape.
Marcin Biegunajtys and Tarah Infranca
On Saturday, May 4, supporters gathered at Mission Ballroom for the festivities. At the reception, guests enjoyed beverages from the venue, as well as Footers Catering passed hors d’oeuvres as they bid on silent auction items. There was a Symphony of Spirits wine wall, too. Footers also provided a delectable plated meal as patrons enjoyed symphony performances and the dinner program.
Those who addressed the crowd included: Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, President & CEO Mark Cantrell, CFO and COO Coreen Miller. The Colorado Symphony performed with award-winning singer-actress and guest artist Sierra Boggess. Featured soloists from the Colorado Symphony were: Concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams; Courtney Hershey Bress, principal harp; and Justin Bartels, principal trumpet. JJ Raterink guided the crowd to higher bids at the live auction, and the evening ended with dance music from Denver Broncos DJ Squizzy Taylor.
Recipients of the 2024 Margaret Phipps Award: Nancy and board member Tony Accetta (front) and Sharon and board treasurer Jim Butler
Jim Butler accepted the 2024 Margaret Phipps Award on behalf of the Butler Family and spoke to the crowd as well. The family wrote: “The theme of this year’s award is Establishing a Family Legacy through Service & Philanthropy. In our family’s case, the legacy was begun by our parents/parents in law Erna and Brad Butler. As members of the ‘greatest generation,’ Erna and Brad set an example of sustaining their community through contributions of time, expertise, and financial resources. The four of us (Nancy & Tony Accetta, Jim & Sharon Butler) and our children are doing our best to build on that legacy through support of our symphony, and other cultural and human service organizations.”
(l to r): CSA President & CEO Mark Cantrell, Carolyn Kunicki, Nicole Frankel, Colorado Ballet Executive Director Sameed Afghani
The Colorado Symphony Association is the region’s only full-time professional orchestra committed to artistic excellence and ensuring the future of live, symphonic music. Performing more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver–and across Colorado–Colorado Symphony is home to 80 full-time musicians representing more than a dozen nations, and regularly welcomes the most celebrated artists from all genres of music. Funds raised at the Centennial Gala will support the Colorado Symphony’s mission of inspiring the future of live, symphonic music. Through its programs, the Colorado Symphony annually reaches over a quarter-million Coloradans with innovative artistic collaborations, world-class classical programs and investments in the community through award-winning educational initiatives and community partnerships. To learn more, please visit: https://coloradosymphony.org/
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- (l to r): Maria Ghirardi, Michael Seibert, Helena Chum
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- Quartet Per Chance, part of Denver Young Artists Orchestra, performed at the reception.
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- (l to r): John Estes, Norma Horner, Amanda Gomez, Anthony Berkley
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- (l to r): Johnnie Williams, Soyoung Lee, Jesse Martinez
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- Nadine and CSA Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian
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- Kevin and Amy Butler
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- Chris and Karen Festog, with table guests
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- Vera Divenyi and Chris Hill
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- (l to r): Shannon Fraser, Auburn Joseph, Gabrielle Illg, with service dog Otto–taking a short break
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- Ginny and Kal Murib
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- Sandy Laskar (left) and Margaret Hoppner
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- Preparing the Symphony of Spirits wine wall
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- Jaclyn and James Tsui
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- (l to r): Gerry and Patty Brown, board member Young and Carolyn Cho
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- (l to r): Mary Spillane, Chelsea Carver, Christine Benero
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- Cyndi and Russ Skillings
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- (l to r): CSA President & CEO Mark Cantrell, Carolyn Kunicki, Nicole Frankel, Colorado Ballet Executive Director Sameed Afghani
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- Chris and Karen Festog with more table friends
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- Marcin Biegunajtys and Tarah Infranca
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- CSA board co-chairs Julie Rubsam and Dr. Richard Krugman
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- Mother-daughter Gloria and Heather Johnson
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- The CTI team
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- Concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams (far left) and friends
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- Tables are set at Mission Ballroom
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- Billy Seiber (left) and Lance Vigil
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- (l to r): Concertmaster Yumi Hwang-Williams, Akane DiFiore, Marta O’Grady, Kelly Dranginis, Elizabeth Likovich
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- (l to r): Rob Hearne, Matthew O’Grady, Bart Hurlbut, John DiFiore
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- Paige Hurlbut (left) and Elizabeth Hearne
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- (l to r): Luke Wachter, Denver Councilman Chris Hinds, Liz Otero
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- (l to r): Maggie Anderson, CSA board treasurer Jim Butler and daughter Christine Graham
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- Nancy and Tony Accetta
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- Recipients of the 2024 Margaret Phipps Award: Nancy and board member Tony Accetta (front) and Sharon and board treasurer Jim Butler
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- Jim and Sharon Butler
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- Nancy and Tony Accetta, with family members
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- Sharon and Jim Butler (center) with family
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- The Colorado Symphony prepares for the evening’s program.
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- Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (left) and Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian prepare to address the crowd.
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- The Colorado Symphony performs.
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- Checking selfies during a break
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- Chatting with a friend
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- Colorado Symphony cellist Judith McIntyre Galecki, with Principal Trumpet and featured soloist Justin Bartels
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- Peter Cooper, principal oboe, and CSA’s CFO and COO Coreen Miller address the audience.
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- CSA musician Peter Cooper (left), with Jim Butler, accepting the 2024 Margaret Phipps Award on behalf of the Butler family
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- Auctioneer JJ Raterink
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- Trying out robotic photographer Lucy
