H+H Celebrates Bicentennial Tonight

Friends and supporters of the Handel and Haydn Society come together this evening, April 18 to celebrate the extraordinary milestone of H+H's Bicentennial. The Society Ball Bicentennial Gala will be an unforgettable evening taking place in the most natural of settings-Symphony Hall, H+H's home since 1900. Lavish, spectacular, and grand, this year's one-of-a-kind Society Ball will stand out with design by coveted event planner Bryan Rafanelli and performances by H+H's Period Instrument Orchestra and Chorus and young singers from the Vocal Arts Program.

"This 200th anniversary of the Handel and Haydn Society is not only an opportunity to celebrate its illustrious past but also to bring its music to future generations," said H+H Gala Chairs Anne & David Gergen. "We are delighted to join with so many others in this inspiring occasion."

"The Handel and Haydn Society's Society Ball is going to be an historic evening filled with a sense of civic pride as the community celebrates their Bicentennial year," says Rafanelli. "It will be a joyful and elegant night showcasing world-class music."

As part of the evening's rich musical activities, Concertmaster Aisslinn Nosky will perform a solo Bach work for violin. Also performing on the Symphony Hall stage will be students from the five youth choirs that make up H+H's Vocal Arts Program, as well as the Period Instrument Orchestra and Chorus. Artistic Director Harry Christophers will lead the professional ensemble in a medley of Baroque and Classical works, newly arranged by Tom Vignieri. Vignieri, who has served as artistic administrator of the Handel and Haydn Society (1993-2003), is the music director of the NPR program From the Top which features America's best young classical musicians. Other highlights of the evening include dance music by the Bo Winiker Orchestra, cocktails, dinner, and a live auction led by Marie Keep from Skinner. Proceeds from The Society Ball will benefit H+H's education and artistic initiatives.

Chairs for The Society Ball Bicentennial Gala are Allison & William Achtmeyer, Deborah & Robert First, Anne & David Gergen, Jane Manilych & W. Carl Kester, Cathleen & James Stone, and Kathleen & Walter Weld. Karen Levy & Peter Banks and Jane & Wat Tyler are the evening's honorary chairs.