The New 411, By Raymond Ward
The League of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) presents its 30th annual Corporate Night benefit concert on Monday, June 3, 2019, at 7:30 p.m., featuring Grammy Award-winning artist, actor and Chicago native Common, with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) led by conductor Steven Reineke.This annual fundraising event includes a cocktail hour and dinner preceding the concert. Corporate Night 2019 is chaired by CSOA Trustee Scott C. Swanson, president, PNC Bank Illinois. The event co-chairs for the League of the CSOA are William Ward and Sheila Jones. The program also includes the presentation of the Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award, which this year goes to ITW in recognition of their outstanding support for the CSOA and exemplary civic engagement in the arts and in Chicago. In addition to sponsorships and packages, individual tickets for the concert only are on sale now.
In his CSO debut, Common joins members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra led by guest conductor Steven Reineke to perform orchestral arrangements of songs from throughout his career. The program features some of Common’s best-known songs including “Love of My Life,” “The Corner” and “Glory,” as well as a few selections from his latest album, “Black America Again.”
Since the release of his 1992 debut album, “Can I Borrow a Dollar?,” Common continues to break down barriers with a multitude of critically acclaimed, diverse roles and continued success. His latest studio album, “Black America Again,” is a socially conscious account of present-day America and features Stevie Wonder, as well as genre-crossing artists and longtime collaborators Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins. A frequent contributor of music for television and film, Common won the 2015 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for “Glory,” featured in the 2014 film “Selma” and also received the 2017 Emmy for Best Music and Lyrics for “Letter to the Free,” which appeared in the 2017 Oscar-nominated documentary “13th.”
Steven Reineke is Music Director of the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Principal Pops Conductor of the Houston and Toronto Symphony Orchestras. Reineke is a frequent guest conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra and has been on the podium with the Boston Pops, Cleveland Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has created programs and collaborated with a range of leading artists spanning across hip-hop, Broadway, television and rock including Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Sutton Foster, Wayne Brady and Ben Folds, among others.
The League of the CSOA’s 30th annual Corporate Night brings together business leaders from across the Chicago area to support the CSO’s artistic, educational and community programs. Popular artists joining members of the CSO on stage for previous Corporate Night concerts include George Benson, Dave Brubeck, Kristin Chenoweth, Elvis Costello, Melissa Etheridge, Michael Feinstein, Marvin Hamlisch, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, Audra McDonald, Sarah McLachlan, Pink Martini, Gregory Porter, Dianne Reeves, Doc Severinsen, Sting, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and Nancy Wilson.This year’s program also includes the presentation of the third Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy Award, which recognizes companies for their outstanding support for the CSOA and exemplary civic engagement in the arts and in Chicago. This year’s awardee is ITW, which has been a generous corporate partner of the CSOA for more than 40 years. The CSOA is proud to honor ITW for its outstanding support, both past and present, and for its dedicated commitment to advancing the arts in Chicago. Scott Santi, chairman and CEO, will receive the award on behalf of ITW.
Corporations and other organizations can participate as sponsors or purchase tables for the evening, which includes pre-concert cocktails and dinner and prime seats for the concert. Sponsorships start at $30,000, and table packages range from $5,000 to $16,000. For more information on the benefits of sponsorship, please call the CSO’s corporate development department at 312-294-3120.The League of the CSOA also offers a special ticket package that includes pre-concert cocktails and dinner followed by prime seating for the concert for $350 each. For more information and tickets, please contact Kim Duffy at [email protected] or 312-294-3162. Concert-only tickets for Corporate Night 2019 are available to the public for $80-$199 and can be purchased by phone at 800-223-7114 or 312-294-3000, online at cso.org, or at the Symphony Center box office: 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL.
Artists, programs and prices are subject to change.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Corporate Night Monday, June 3, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Common with Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Steven Reineke, conductor.
Selections to be announced from the stageConcert-only tickets: $80-$199 Dinner and premium concert seat package (hosted by the League of the CSOA): $350 per person Corporate sponsorships start at $30,000; corporate tables from $5,000 to $16,000; and corporate tickets from $900 to $2,500 per person.
