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It’s been another great year for the Colorado Symphony which celebrated its success Saturday, April 6 with the 26th Colorado Symphony Ball at Denver’s historic Fillmore Auditorium. This year’s theme: “Speak Easy, Rock Hard.”
Emcee Kim Christiansen of 9News greeted more than 600 guests and patrons wearing their best 1920s speakeasy attire and blacktie best.
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Diane Hill was awarded the 2019 Margaret Phipps Award from CSO CEO/Chair Jerry Kerns.
Colorado Symphony Orchestra CEO/Chair Jerome “Jerry” Kern presented the 2019 Margaret Phipps Award for Philanthropy to CSO Trustee Diane Hill, PhD. Hill is an organizational psychologist at Somerville Partners–a professional company dedicated to using psychology to help organizational leaders select, develop, and inspire those who work for them. Since joining the board in 1989 she has helped spearhead many fundraising and outreach initiatives.
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CSO Chair/CEO Jerry Kerns talks with CSO Music Director Brett Mitchell
The event featured live performances by the Colorado Symphony and The Originators, conducted by Associate Conductor Christopher Dragon. The Originators band performed classic rock cover tunes from the ’70’s to today’s hits. The 2019-20 season marks Brett Mitchell’s third season as music director and Yumi Hwang-Williams’ 20th season as Concertmaster–just in time for Beethoven’s 250th birthday in 2020.
This year’s premier or Maestro Sponsors are: AMG National Trust Bank, Anonymous,
The Anschutz Foundation, Keith and Kathie Finger, Haselden Construction, LLC, HomeAdvisor, Mary Rossick Kern and Jerome H. Kern, Liberty Global, Inc., and the
University of Colorado System.
According to Musical Director Brett Mitchell, the past season has been filled with several key achievements including:
- Signing an Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Denver, securing $16.7 million to be used for a new state-of-the-art concert hall in Denver.
- Announced the 2019/20 Season featuring major stars Renée Fleming and Kristin Chenoweth
- Reached the halfway point of our endowment campaign goal of $50 million which will make the endowment the largest of any Colorado performing arts organization
- Performed more than 150 times with an expanded and diversified repertoire
For movie lovers the Colorado Symphony this fall will perform scores from several films including: The Goonies, Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone, and Love Actually. Other highly anticipated performances will feature travel host Rick Steves and a tribute to Aretha Franklin.
Established in 1989 as the successor to the Denver Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Symphony performs in the Denver Center for Performing Arts’ Boettcher Concert Hall, and each year presents education and outreach programs: Masterworks, Pops, Holiday, Family, Inside the Score, and Symphony on the Rocks series.
Single tickets to all concerts go on sale Aug. 1, 2019. To purchase tickets or download a season brochure visit: https://coloradosymphony.org/Events-Tickets/Subscriptions. And, for more general information visit www.coloradosymphony.org
- The CSO’s annual event attracted more than 650 guests
- Champagne for everyone
- Many thanks to the Event Committee Chairs
- Carolyn and Young Cho
- Alma Garcia and Zee Ferrufino
- Diane Hill and Kevin Somerville
- Michelle and Fred DeNult
- Cole and Tiffany Jacobs
- Cole andTiffany Jacobs, left, Abbott and Carla Lawrence, Brian and Gretchen Astone
- Ryan Arnold, Sandy Robinson
- Jason Hill, Kevin Somerville, Yumi Hwang-Williams
- Kate Johnson and Chair/CEO Jerome H. Kern talks with a friend
- Musicians played for the reception
- CSO musicians play during the reception
- Amy Harmon Cochran, Sabrina Rizzo
- The table is set for another event at the historic Fillmore Auditorium
- Sandy and Dave Evans
- Andrew and Kristin Beck, Jen Palmer, Joy Detra, Nate Palmer
- Kristen Beck, Jen Palmer, Joy Detra
- Jennifer and James Sharn
- Jeremy Simmons, CSO Music Director Brett Mitchell, Angela Mitchell, Christopher Ott
- Charles and Gretchen Lobitz, Jim and Ginny Page
- Just one shot should be ok
- Helping with auction items
- Amber McReynolds, Stephanie Donner, David and Kasia MacLeod
- Linda Smith, Janice Fisher, Allison Schovee
- Henny and Bert Lasley
- Guests enjoying reception
- Panny Brentlinger, Shelby Adams
- Debby Kauffman, Tricia Smith, Scott Bemis, CSO Associate Conductor Christopher Dragon
- Ellen Ruble, Renee Duncan
- Gina and Steve Fenton
- Molly Cohen, Denver City Councilman Albus Brooks
- Kristen and Andrew Beck
- A well-attended reception under colorful lights
- Tricia Smith, Scott Bemis
- Ally Browning, Kayla “KJ” Buckingham
- Ally Browning, Kayla “KJ” Buckingham (center) and friends
- This year more than 650 guests and patrons filled the Fillmore Auditorium
- 9News Anchor Kim Christiansen welcomed guests
- Jerry Kerns presented Diane Hill with Margaret Phipps Award
- Diane Hill, PhD thanked guests and sponsors
- A full house arrived Saturday, April 6 to celebrate the CSO’s “Speak Easy, Rock Hard”