FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 10, 2013
Press Contacts:
Rachelle Roe
Maggie Berndt
Erin Dennis
BANK OF AMERICA EXTENDS GLOBAL SPONSORSHIP
OF CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Additional Recent Major Gifts Total $13 Million
CHICAGO—The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) announced today
that Bank of America has extended its commitment as Global Sponsor of the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra through the 2013/14 season. Bank of America is the first and only
Global Sponsor of the CSO; their support began with the start of Maestro Muti’s tenure as
music director in the 2010/11 season.
“The power of the CSO as a world class orchestra to connect communities and cultures,
as well as our clients worldwide, is in complete harmony with our commitment to help
drive economies and contribute social value through our business and community
support,” said Rena De Sisto, Bank of America global arts and culture executive. “Our
global sponsorship of the CSO delivers in spades—from its importance to the economy
and cultural life of Chicago, to its reflection on our nation as a world renowned orchestra,
to Maestro Muti’s unmatched leadership and artistic vision of music as a way to connect
individuals and cultures—it is a jewel in the crown of our global arts and culture program.”
The CSOA also announced that since the start of 2013, it has received gifts from four
donors totaling $13 million in support of Maestro Muti’s programs, artistic initiatives, and
to endow and name two principal chairs in the Orchestra.
Major gifts include $3 million from the Zell Family Foundation to support Music Director
Riccardo Muti and his programs with the CSO; $5 million from Erika and CSO Trustee
Dietrich Gross to sponsor CSO concert programming and to endow in perpetuity the CSO
Principal Flute chair, which has been held by Mathieu Dufour since 1999; $2 million from
The Mellon Foundation to support new initiatives, including the upcoming RIVERS
Festival; and a $3 million anonymous gift to support programs of the CSO’s Institute for
Learning, Access and Training and to endow in perpetuity the CSO Principal Viola chair,
which has been held by Charles Pikler since 1986.
“Several years ago I started underwriting concerts and got to know the leadership of the
Orchestra,” said CSO Trustee Helen Zell. “This gift is about the music and sustaining the
production of orchestral music. We have the best music director in the world and my
contribution supports him and his artistic initiatives.”
“Any great cultural institution is dependent on those who are willing to go above and beyond to
show their appreciation for what the organization brings to its community,” said Jay Henderson,
Chairman of the CSOA’s Board of Trustees. “The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is no different
in that regard. We are so fortunate to have donors who understand that the marvelous musicmaking by our world class Music Director and Orchestra must have the support of individuals,
foundations and businesses who understand the many ways in which music can enhance the
lives of our audiences, whether at home or in the global community that we serve, as well. We
are deeply thankful for the support from all of these donors.”
A musical force in Chicago and around the world, the CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA has been
consistently hailed as one of the finest international orchestras since its founding in 1891. Riccardo Muti,
one of the world’s most celebrated maestros, began his tenure as the 10th music director of the CSO in
September 2010, and the eminent composer-conductor Pierre Boulez continues his service as
Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus. In collaboration with renowned conductors and guest artists on
the international music scene, the CSO performs well over 150 concerts each year at its home,
Symphony Center, and in summer residency at the Ravinia Festival. With the launch of The Institute for
Learning, Access and Training, the CSO engages more than 200,000 Chicago-area residents annually.
Music lovers outside Chicago enjoy the sounds of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra not only through its
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Radio Broadcast Series and best-selling recordings on its acclaimed inhouse record label, CSO Resound, but also through sold-out tour performances in the United States and
around the globe. Since 1971, the CSO has undertaken 39 overseas tours, most recently visiting Asia in
January and February 2013, marking the seventh visit to that continent. The CSO has traveled to Europe
30 times including two trips to Russia, as well as once each to Australia and South America. In North
America, the Orchestra traveled to Canada 16 times between 1892 and 1976 and made its first trip to
Mexico in October 2012. For more information about the CSO, visit cso.org.
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