FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Contact: Nancy Bertossa
(415) 677-0328 or [email protected]
SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES PRESENTS
A HEARTFELT GALA
HONORING FOUNDER RUTH A. FELT ON HER RETIREMENT
Cocktails, dinner, dessert and concert featuring
Philip Glass, Jennifer Koh, Sean Jones Trio, Jake Heggie, Sasha Cooke and Luciana Souza
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 | 6:00PM | SAN FRANCISCO CITY HALL AND HERBST THEATRE
Clockwise Top L-R: Jake Heggie, Ruth Felt, Philip Glass, Sean Jones, Sasha Cook
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Tuesday, September 6, 2016. San Francisco Performances (SFP) founder and
President Ruth A. Felt will be honored on the occasion of her retirement after 37 years at the head of one of
the nation’s most respected performing arts organizations at A Heartfelt Gala Friday, September 30, at San
Francisco City Hall and Herbst Theatre. The benefit, black-tie optional evening will begin at 6 pm in City Hall
Rotunda with cocktails and dinner followed by a concert in Herbst Theatre featuring performances and tributes
by composer/pianist Philip Glass, violinist Jennifer Koh, the Sean Jones Trio, composer/pianist Jake
Heggie, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke and composer-vocalist Luciana Souza, who will emcee the
performance. The evening will conclude with a dessert reception in the War Memorial Green Room following
the concert. A Heartfelt Gala is chaired by Gussie Stewart and Fred Levin, with all proceeds to benefit the
non-profit San Francisco Performances. The event is very well sold and a limited number of tickets are
available for the full evening begin at $500 and may be purchased at sfperformances.org.
The Dinner Committee for A Heartfelt Gala includes American Conservatory Theater, Frank S. Bayley and
Martin and Maria Quinn, Thomas and Lily Beischer, Paul and Kathy Bissinger, Robert and Ruth Dell,
Farella Braun + Martel LLP, Lynn Feintech and Anthony Bernhardt, George and Marie Hecksher and
Yanek and Mary Chiu, James C. Hormel and Michael P. Nguyen, Legato Capital Management, LLC,
Fred Levin and Nancy Livingston, Susie and Grant Lundberg, Patrick R. McCabe, Merola Opera
Program, Roger D. Miles and Satomi Fukuda Miles, Berit and Robert Muh, Amanda Nelson and Julian
Reyes, Paul Taylor Dance Company, San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Community Music Center,
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Opera, SFJAZZ, Shartsis Friese LLP, LaVerne
and Alan Silverman, George and Camilla Smith, and Gussie and John Stewart.
About Ruth A. Felt
Ruth A. Felt embodies a unique vision, unparalleled energy and passion for the performing arts and has
gained a reputation as one of the most influential and beloved arts administrators in North American. Ms. Felt
founded San Francisco Performances in 1979 in response to the need for a stable and innovative presenting
company for chamber music, vocal and instrumental recitals, jazz and contemporary dance. SF Performances
presents an ambitious and successful roster of internationally-acclaimed and emerging performing artists;
introduces innovative programs; and builds new and diversified audiences for the arts through education and
outreach activities that also strengthen the local performing arts community. San Francisco Performances has
grown from presenting 7 programs on its first season in 1980-81 to its current 37th Season of presenting over
160 performances and education outreach programs by some of the world’s most exceptional artists.
Before founding San Francisco Performances, Ms. Felt was the Company Administrator for the San Francisco
Opera Association from 1971 to 1979. Prior to that time, she served as Assistant Concert Manager for the
UCLA Department of Fine Arts Productions for five years, and as an assistant in speechwriting in the Office of
Hubert H. Humphrey, Vice President of the United States. A native of Willmar, Minnesota, Ms. Felt received
her Bachelor of Arts Degree from UCLA in 1961.
Ms. Felt has served on the Board of Directors of Chamber Music America and the International Society for the
Performing Arts. She was a founding Board member for Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS.
Currently she serves on the Advisory Boards of the San Francisco Community Music Center and Omni
Foundation for the Performing Arts.
In January, 2005, in New York City, Ms. Felt received Chamber Music America’s highest honor: the Richard J.
Bogomolny National Service Award and from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters: the William
Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence. In November, 2005 she received the Silver Spur Award for
outstanding civic contribution from the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association. In January,
2007 she received the NAPAMA Award for Excellence in Presenting the Performing Arts from the North
American Performing Arts Managers and Agents.
Ms. Felt announced her retirement in 2016 and was succeeded August 1, 2016 by Melanie Smith as President
of San Francisco Performances.
About San Francisco Performances
San Francisco Performances (SFP) is recognized as one of the leading presenters in the world. Founded by
Ruth A. Felt in 1979 with a season of seven concerts, the organization is now in its 37th season and runs
under the artistic direction of its president, Melanie Smith, who succeeded Ms. Felt in August 2016. SFP
proudly features more than 60 mainstage performances of chamber music, recitals, contemporary dance,
guitar, vocal, and jazz in a variety of venues in San Francisco including Herbst Theatre, Davies Symphony
Hall, YBCA Theater, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, SFJAZZ Center, the Strand Theater and St.
John’s Presbyterian Church (Berkeley). The organization also presents two smaller series; one held at the
Hotel Rex in Union Square called SALONS and the other held in varying venues throughout San Francisco,
called PIVOT. Through the years, SFP has presented more than 100 premieres and San Francisco debuts,
introducing such acclaimed artists in recital as composer/pianist Thomas Adès, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist
Anne-Sophie Mutter, pianist Evgeny Kissin, and soprano Dawn Upshaw as well as presenting single
choreographer-led international dance companies such as Ohad Naharin’s Batsheva Dance Company from
Israel and Company Wayne McGregor from England.
Through successful partnerships with artists, Bay Area schools and community organizations, SFP has also
established one of the most recognized and respected performing arts education programs in the country.
Anchored by the artist residency program that brings artists into classrooms and community workshops, the
arts education projects help expose new audiences, young and old, to the great performers of our time. SFP’s
outreach promotes active engagement with the performing arts, deepening the experience while opening
events to diverse audiences.
CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
(Please include our name as the presenter and check to be sure you have our updated website address-many thanks!)
SAN FRANCISCO PERFORMANCES PRESENTS
A Heartfelt Gala: Honoring Founder Ruth A. Felt on Her Retirement
WHEN: Friday, September 30, 2016, 6:00pm
WHERE: San Francisco City Hall and Herbst Theatre (401 Van Ness Avenue at McAllister)
TICKETS: Very limited quantity, $500 each
CONTACT: (415) 677-0326 or sfperformances.org
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