Eccles Foundation Grants Utah Symphony | Utah Opera $5 Million

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO) has announced the launch of "The Campaign for Perpetual Motion," a $20 million public fundraising campaign that will continue to build and showcase the organization throughout the entire state of Utah and beyond as the Utah Symphony prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary season in 2015-2016.

"We are developing exciting plans surrounding the 75th anniversary of the Utah Symphony, including recording, broadcasting and touring not only statewide, but also nationally and internationally," announced President and CEO Melia Tourangeau.

Special plans in development include:

• Touring within the state of Utah including a statewide tour during the Utah Symphony's 75th Anniversary and a tour including free concerts in or near each of Utah's five national parks
• Utah Symphony tours to the West and East coasts
• International touring of the Utah Symphony to Europe and Asia
• New recording and broadcasting projects
• Commissioning of new works including a special commission for the Utah Symphony's 75th Anniversary to be inspired by Utah landscapes

**Details for the projects will be announced at a later date.

USUO publicly announced the Campaign for Perpetual Motion and its lead gift of $5 million from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation at the Utah Symphony's concert on Friday, November 8, 2013 at Abravanel Hall. This landmark gift from the Eccles Foundation, including its 2013-2014 Season Sponsorship, carries on its decades-long support totaling more than $32 million for the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera.

"We have a long-term partnership with USUO that began with Uncle George and Aunt Lolie Eccles themselves 30 years ago, and a firm belief in the importance of this great organization," said Eccles Foundation Chairman and CEO Spencer F. Eccles. "We know that having a strong arts community - including a vibrant symphony and opera - translates directly into the future strength and economic vitality of our state."

Said Eccles Foundation President and COO Lisa Eccles, "It's great to see the momentum this campaign is generating for the Symphony and Opera, and how it will strengthen not only performances and tours, but also outreach programs that travel to communities statewide. Seeing the enthusiasm of the many schoolchildren who participate is exciting, knowing that they're the 'next generation' to carry on this great work into the future. And this campaign is really about the future!"

Spencer Eccles is joined as an honorary co-chair of the campaign by Jon M. Huntsman and Carolyn Tanner Irish. Campaign committee co-chairs include notable community supporters Scott and Jesselie Anderson, Lisa Eccles, Kem and Carolyn Gardner, Gail Miller and Kim Wilson, and Joanne and Bill Shiebler.

For Campaign Co-chair Mr. Gardner, chairman of The KC Gardner Company, supporting Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is a responsibility shared among many. "We're investing in the expansion of what Maestro Maurice Abravanel and so many of our community leaders established together, namely the international reputation of one of America's top orchestras," said Mr. Gardner, a longstanding philanthropist who sits on the board of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera. "We're standing on big shoulders and we have a responsibility to continue this legacy. But it's more than a great responsibility-it's also a great joy."

In addition to its $5 million lead gift for the new Campaign for Perpetual Motion, the Eccles Foundation's $1 million in 2011-2012 helped cap off USUO's Leadership Campaign that prepared a solid foundation of support from which to launch this public fundraising effort. Through the Leadership Campaign, USUO received commitments from approximately 35 individuals, corporations, and foundations, including an extraordinary $4.6 million capstone commitment from O.C. Tanner Company.

Others who have joined the Eccles and O.C. Tanner in committing significant gifts of $1 million or more include Gael Benson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation, the Lawrence T. & Janet T. Dee Foundation, Kem & Carolyn Gardner, the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, Mark & Dianne Prothro, Patricia A. Richards & William K. Nichols, the Shiebler Family Foundation, and Zions Bank.

Says Dave Peterson, president and CEO of O.C. Tanner and vice chair of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Board of Trustees: "The Utah Symphony and Opera belong to this community. They are ours to enjoy and to care for. The people and cultures of our state are regularly uplifted through their great musical performances and educational outreach to our kids. The O.C. Tanner Company and the Tanner families are believers in their mission and purpose and we encourage others to join us!"

"Together these generous leaders have sustained USUO through challenging times and are now setting the stage for some very exciting projects. With their support, we are very well positioned to celebrate our great history and create a legacy for the future," said Patricia Richards, chair of the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Board of Trustees. "This is a great organization on the cusp of becoming even greater -- this is a unique moment that will never come again, and we hope others will follow the example of these extraordinary leaders."

"Thanks to the leadership of its Board of Trustees and closest supporters, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is very well positioned to celebrate its great history and future through this public campaign," said Ms. Tourangeau.

About Utah Symphony | Utah Opera: Utah Symphony | Utah Opera connects Utah communities through great live music, serving as the premier local provider of orchestral and operatic art forms. The Utah Symphony, which performs at Abravanel Hall, is one of the nation's only year-round orchestras. Together with Utah Opera, which performs at the Capitol Theatre, USUO reaches 450,000 citizens in Utah and the Intermountain region with educational outreach programs serving more than 200,000 students annually. The organization employs 57 staff and 85 full-time musicians, presenting four full operas, more than 70 symphony performances in each regular season, and over 200 education performances each year. Additionally, USUO performs community concerts throughout Utah and an annual summer series - the Deer Valley Music Festival - in Park City, Utah. For more information, visit www.usuo.org.

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