Collegiate Chorale's Annual Fall Gala Raises Over $200,000

The Collegiate Chorale raised more than $200,000 at its 2013 Annual Fall Gala on November 6, 2013 at Carnegie Hall. The festive Gala evening welcomed 125 guests, and honored Directors Emeriti Anna M. and William H. Mann for more than ten years of dedicated and inspired Board service. The cocktail reception and seated dinner was followed by a much anticipated concert performance of Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele and a dessert buffet during intermission. The thrilling musical fireworks and the glorious choral music provided a spectacular evening of heavenly music and devilish good fun.

The evening honored The Collegiate Chorale's special friends and extraordinary Directors Emeriti Anna and William Mann, for over 10 years of inspired Board leadership. Their rare combination of charm, intelligence, connoisseurship, generosity and engagement has benefited The Chorale in ways great and small. As Board Vice-Chairs since 2008 they have mindfully led by example and been a vital force in our organizational growth. They were celebrated for their warmth and wisdom, for their great contributions to The Chorale's institutional strength, and for sharing their profound knowledge and love for the choral repertoire, opera and the other performing arts in the U.S. and abroad. Anna and William Mann were present at the benefit evening with family members and friends.

Arrigo Boito based his only completed opera on the legend of Faust, but titled after the character that truly drives the action: Mefistofele, the devil himself. And what a devil we had in great bass-baritone Eric Owens who made his debut in the role alongside Arturo Chacón-Cruz as Faust, Julianna di Giacomo as Margherita, as well as mezzo-soprano Teresa Buchholz and tenor Joseph Michael Brent. In Mefistofele, good triumphs over evil and takes us from hell to heaven in just over two hours of beautiful and exciting music. The impressive, combined forces of The Collegiate Chorale, the Manhattan Girls Chorus, the American Symphony Orchestra, and thrilling musical fireworks from the exceptional soloists under Maestro James Bagwell created a spectacular evening.

The evening featured two Faith Geier artists: Eric Owens and Joseph Michael Brent. The Faith Geier Artist Initiative at The Collegiate Chorale offers transformational opportunities for young and developing soloists to perform at top venues with internationally-renowned artists. This experience represents an important spring board for these emerging artists. It was certainly an impressive Carnegie Hall debut for Mr. Brent singing alongside acclaimed artist Eric Owens. Joseph Michael Brent joined the chorus as a high school student in the inaugural class of The Chorale's Side-by-Side program in 2003 and is now pursuing doctoral studies in vocal performance.

Rima Ayas and Ronald Moore, Susan Baker and Michael Lynch, Philip H. Geier Jr. and Julie Weindling, Antonia and George Grumbach, and James and Kathryn Murdoch co-chaired the event.

The mission of The Collegiate Chorale is to enrich its audiences through innovative programming and exceptional performances of a broad range of vocal music featuring a premier choral ensemble. Founded in 1941 by the legendary conductor Robert Shaw, The Chorale has established a preeminent reputation for its interpretations of the traditional choral repertoire, vocal works by American composers, and rarely heard operas-in-concert, as well as for commissions and premieres of new works by today's most exciting creative artists.

For more information about The Collegiate Chorale, visit www.collegiatechorale.org. For information on the Fall Gala, please visit http://collegiatechorale.org/support/special-events.

Photos by Erin Baiano

Susan Susan Baker, Anna Mann, William Mann
Beverly Benz Treuille, Rima Ayas, Ronald Moore
Jack Grumbach, Bruce Rabbino, Jennifer Collins, Mariane Lemieux, Bruce Patrick