Cleveland Orchestra's Annual Gala Raises Over A Million Dollars

The Cleveland Orchestra today announced that the 2016 Annual Gala held on Saturday, October 1 raised - for the third year in a row - more than a million dollars. This year's Cleveland Orchestra Gala raised $1,100,000, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the sponsors, patrons, and long-time supporters. Under the leadership of Gala Chair NorMa Lerner, Corporate Chair Beth Mooney, KeyBank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Chair Nancy W. McCann, the Gala has nearly doubled the annual revenue in the last five years. The Cleveland Orchestra Gala supports the Orchestra's music education and community engagement programs.

More than 420 guests attended the Gala this year. This number includes members of the Orchestra's young professionals organization, The Circle.

The concert portion of the evening featured pianist Emanuel Ax, who joined Music Director Franz Welser-Möst and The Cleveland Orchestra in a performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2.

The concert was followed by dinner throughout Severance Hall, in the Bogomolny-Kozerefski Grand Foyer, the Smith Lobby, the Founders Gallery, the Box Promenade, and Severance Restaurant. The Gala was catered by Executive Chef Douglas Katz.

The lead sponsors for the Gala are The Lerner Foundation, KeyBank, Milton and Tamar Maltz, and Audrey and Albert Ratner.

(Photo Credit: Cleveland Orchestra Facebook Page)