2013 2013 ANNUAL REPORT MARTIN THEATRE BENNETT GORDON HALL (BGH) PAVILION RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION ROBERT D. KREBS, WELZ KAUFFMAN, JAMES CONLON, Chairman, Board of Trustees President and CEO Music Director, LAWN Chicago Symphony Orchestra Residency A MESSAGE FROM RAVINIA’S LEADERSHIP True to our mission, the could be one of Ravinia’s not-for-profit, -year-old greatest hits. This celebration Ravinia is many things to of Ravinia’s Steans Music many people: it’s the park Institute (RSMI) yielded so where the Chicago Symphony many highlights, they’re hard Orchestra has played since to enumerate in this short ; it’s a musical lifeline space, but when one considers to budget-strapped schools; that alumni from RSMI it’s a summer conservatory returned to Ravinia’s stages that shapes the careers of this summer, it’s clear that the world’s finest musicians; the summer conservatory Robert D. Krebs, it’s one of the best rock nurtures true talent. We Chairman, Board of Trustees venues, according to Rolling also showcased this year’s Stone magazine; and, of fellows with performance is demarked at Ravinia course, it’s the oldest and opportunities of their own, with a newly commissioned most diverse music festival including an evening of seven sculpture by Chicago sculptor in the Americas, presenting world-premiere songs that we and Ravinia Life Trustee over events each summer commissioned just for them Richard Hunt in the newly to some , guests. By from top-flight composers, refurbished home of RSMI, all these accounts, Ravinia from Aaron Jay Kernis to Bennett Gordon Hall. enjoyed a record year in . Jake Heggie to our own We converted years All year we celebrated Ramsey Lewis. This year also into dollars, with an the th anniversary of the marked the th anniversary unprecedented offering of dream-come-true of the of Miriam Fried heading up , of the Pavilion’s , late impresario Edward RSMI’s piano and strings seats for only each to all Gordon, who ran Ravinia program, and bringing things CSO concerts this summer. with a masterful hand full circle, we surprised her We believe that, as a result, from until and with the first Edward Gordon more people were able to understood that an on- Award to recognize her enjoy symphonic music campus training program for outstanding achievements. from a Pavilion seat, with young professional musicians The Edward Gordon Award average CSO attendance the highest it’s been in the past six years. The experiment— an expansion of the “Full House” initiative launched in —is a logical component of our never-ending efforts to attract new audiences to classical music, along with free lawn admission to classical concerts for students Gala Benefit featuring Lang Lang and an expansion of our 2 not disappoint. Concert highlights included the Midwest premieres of the newest masterpiece from John Adams, The Gospel According to the Other Mary (“the most important artistic event of the summer season,” according to the Chicago Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute celebrated its 25th anniversary Tribune, and performed by with a premiere party including seven commissioned songs. the cast who sang the work’s premiere, conducted by Grant BGH Classics series. The new REACH*TEACH*PLAY Gershon), and David Lang’s Pavilion pricing proved so educational programs that Pulitzer Prize-winning The successful that we will offer reach scores of thousands Little Match Girl Passion; Yo- the majority of CSO Pavilion of students and families in Yo Ma and friends crossing seats at in as well. underserved communities. the worlds of classical and And what did get you? These programs include bluegrass music with The Concerts included a string Ravinia’s Jazz Scholars and Goat Rodeo Sessions; and of memorable evenings, Mentors, who made a TV Daniel Hope and the Chicago from the all-star concert appearance late in the year, Philharmonic conducted performance of Verdi’s Aida and Sistema Ravinia, which by Tito Muñoz performing led by our music director of launched a second student Max Richter’s hypnotic the CSO residency, James orchestra at Catalyst Circle transformation of Vivaldi’s Conlon, to superstar pianist Rock school in Chicago. The Four Seasons. The Lang Lang returning to the Through the continuation summer was a virtual choral Gala stage that launched his of our Classical Youth festival, with the return of spectacular career in , Initiative, a Ravinia Student the Mormon Tabernacle two screenings of The Lord Advisory Board comprising Choir, The Singers of the Rings—The Two Towers area high school students with the score performed set themselves the task of live by the CSO, the return to spreading the gospel of the United States of violinist classical music to their peers. Maxim Vengerov, two all- Their student-attendance Beethoven evenings featuring competition this year was venerable conductor won by Chicago’s Morgan Christoph von Dohnányi with Park High School, which pianist Emanuel Ax, and the received a , award Ravinia debut of conductor provided by the Ravinia Carlos Miguel Prieto. Associates. On other fronts, Ravinia This summer was dubbed cultivated future listeners a season of “Passions and Welz Kauffman, through our extensive Masterpieces,” and it did President and CEO 3 performing Rachmaninoff’s rock engagement, Melissa who know and love Ravinia beloved Vespers at Trinity Etheridge, Josh Groban, can not only take heart at Episcopal Church, Music Alabama, Journey, Darius the unique fiscal stability of the Baroque performing Rucker, Celtic Woman, David Ravinia enjoys, but also Handel’s choral tour-de- Byrne & St. Vincent, Heart reap the benefits of the force Israel in Egypt, the Los and so many more that the ongoing enhancements to Angeles Master Chorale in only way to avoid leaving the park that stability makes The Gospel According to the out major events would be possible. This year saw a Other Mary by John Adams, to attach a complete listing beautiful remodeling of the and the Chicago Symphony of the summer’s concerts. John D. Harza Building, Chorus participating in our The beautiful photographs which is the home of RSMI performance of Aida. included in this report should and Bennett Gordon Hall. There was also a special give an inkling to the virtual Additional improvements tribute to Benny Goodman’s embarrassment of musical included enhanced way- game-changing Ravinia debut riches savored by Ravinia finding lighting, large video of , which paved the way audiences this summer. kiosks, sculptural bronze for this year’s remarkable With artistic programming benches, and a new south roster of debut artists in of this caliber and depth, it gateway with auxiliary box the realms of country, jazz, is not surprising that once office to welcome audiences singer-songwriters, R&B, again Ravinia has bucked the in fine style. Over on the world, rock and folk music. financial malaise that afflicts Bernbaum Sculpture Walk, They included a knockout so many arts organizations Ravinia’s collection was double-bill of Matchbox these days, exceeding our expanded with Two Seated Twenty and Goo Goo goals for both earned and Figures I, created by the late Dolls in our first three-day contributed income. Those legendary British sculptor Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Thile performing The Goat Rodeo Sessions 4 the playing of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, none of it would amount to anything without an eager, faithful and receptive audience to hear them. We are also grateful for the countless supporters—both individual and corporate— whose generosity has ensured Ravinia’s position among the world’s greatest concert venues. The Ravinia family of volunteers—the Women’s Board and Ravinia Associates, both of which made Welz Kauffman with Anne record levels of financial and Robert Krebs at the Gala contributions to the festival this year—continued to amaze Lynn Chadwick. Following million dollars, representing us with their dedication and the park improvements made percent of our annual ticket tireless efforts to constantly over the past several years, sales from this record year. make Ravinia better. Thanks these enhancements have The city can use this money to them, Ravinia continues truly made Ravinia—a venue as it sees fit and contributes to grow, thrive and evolve, already celebrated for its a large portion to local with no limits in sight. It is marvelous beauty—a more programs dedicated to serving with clear-sighted vision that beautiful site for magical youth, education, arts and we look to the future with its evenings under the stars. social services. We thank our challenge of replenishing the We believe these neighbors for their support. audience for classical music. enhancements not only suit We are most grateful to our It is a challenge that we are Ravinia, but help beautify our loyal contributors who very uniquely positioned to meet, hometown, which we are so much define what we are. thanks to an all-Ravinia proud of, Highland Park. This No matter how magnificent family effort, and we can all fall we presented Highland the repertoire, how stellar delight in contemplating a Park with a check for over a the soloists, how glorious magnificent future together. ROBERT D. KREBS WELZ KAUFFMAN Chairman, Board of Trustees President and CEO 5 BENNY GOODMAN TRIBUTE The modern musical landscape of Ravinia owes much to a controversial artist debut 75 years ago—Benny Goodman. He put a spotlight on young, up-and-coming artists; he opened Ravinia’s doors to non-classical artists; and in a daring move for those days he brought the first black musicians to play at Ravinia in his integrated band. We celebrated each branch of that legacy with an all-day tribute to the “King of Swing,” kicked off by Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute Jazz Grandstand.