HSO Gala Digital Program Book

A LETTER FROM
MaryBeth Reiss and Gerry Lupacchino
Co-Chairs of the HSO Bravo!
Gala Committee
EVENING PROGRAM
Good evening, Friends!
Welcome to the Hartford Symphony Orchestra’s Bravo! Virtual Gala – again! When the HSO
pivoted to a virtual fundraiser for the 2020 Bravo! Gala, we were hopeful it would be a onetime
occasion. Out of an abundance of caution, we made the call to go virtual again for 2021,
with the added challenge of making the virtual experience entertaining, participatory, and
something you haven’t seen before!
While we can’t be together in one place this evening, we are excited that the musicians of
the Hartford Symphony Orchestra were able to safely gather and record their first symphony
performance in over a year. Tonight’s program is truly incredible, and we hope you all enjoy
watching as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
It has been a pleasure to serve together as Co-Chairs of such a motivated and inspired
committee, who, through their ingenuity, connections, and dedication, have helped make this
evening a success.
This virtual Gala also would not have been possible without the support and participation
of our many corporate and individual sponsors. Incredibly, we are thrilled to announce that
we exceeded our sponsorship goal for the event! This success is such a testament to the
community that surrounds the HSO. The proceeds raised from this important event help pave
the road back, allowing the HSO to support our musicians and serve all in our community.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, table hosts, ticket buyers, Fund the Transformation
contributors, and everyone else tuning in this evening in support of the Hartford Symphony
Orchestra! We also owe a special thank you to each of our local vendors and partners, listed
on page 13 of this program book. As a thank you to the community who generously supports
the HSO, it was important to the staff and Gala committee that we chose to partner with
local businesses for everything from the surprise butterfly origami kits in your meal boxes
(thank you, Hartford Prints!) to the cocktail kits sent to our out-of-town supporters, curated
by Hartford Flavor Company—plus so much more. Our community is resilient, and as we
focus on the silver linings and strive to return to normalcy, we realize that some changes are
indeed miraculous transformations.
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Access livestream at:
https://hartfordsymphony.org/BravoLivestream2021/
7:00 PM • Program Begins
Featuring performances by the Hartford Symphony
Orchestra led by Music Director Carolyn Kuan
• Including solos by HSO musicians:
• Jaroslaw Lis, Assistant Principal Second Violin
• Brian Diehl, Principal Trombone
• Michael Wheeler, Principal Viola
• Aekyung Kim, Assistant Principal Viola
8:00 PM • Program Concludes
10:00 PM • Auction Closes
We appreciate you being here with us this evening. Enjoy!
Sincerely,
MaryBeth Reiss
Bravo! Co-Chair
Gerry Lupacchino
Bravo! Co-Chair
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