THE SEATTLE SYMPHONY’S OPENING NIGHT GALA RAISES $1.8 MILLION, HONORING DELTA AIR LINES’ SUPPORT OF SEVERAL MISSION-CRITICAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
THE GALA FEATURED AN EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCE BY WORLD-RENOWNED PIANIST KHATIA BUNIATISHVILI & DINNER BY MAMNOON AND EXECUTIVE CHEF NICCO MURATORE
Seattle, WA — The Seattle Symphony’s Opening Night Gala celebrated the beginning of the 2024/2025 season on September 13, 2024, raising $1.8 million in support of the organization’s artistic, community and education programming and honoring Delta Air Lines’ support of several community initiatives. Following the Gala, the opening weekend festivities continued on September 14 with the Opening Night Concert: Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, as Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot opened the season with a sparkling party, giving the community more opportunities to celebrate with the Symphony.
Delta Air Lines’ support of the Seattle Symphony began over two decades ago, and most recently has provided critical funding for the Symphony’s extensive community engagement initiatives, including innovative music education programs serving children and families in communities with historically limited access. Community partnerships for youth and education, made possible through Delta’s support, create multi-year partnerships with nonprofit youth education organizations in King and Kitsap counties, offering hands-on learning, mentorship and specialized instruction with Seattle Symphony musicians and educators.
The Opening Night Gala was held at Benaroya Hall and featured an exclusive, intimate performance by world-renowned pianist Khatia Buniatishvili. Guests also enjoyed an exquisite dinner prepared by mamnoon and Executive Chef Nicco Muratore. Throughout the evening, remarks were made by President & CEO Krishna Thiagarajan and Seattle Symphony Board Chair Jon Rosen.
The celebration continued the next evening with an unforgettable sold-out Seattle Symphony Opening Night Concert: Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue featuring Buniatishvili and Conductor Emeritus Ludovic Morlot with works inspired by Brazil, Mexico and Spain followed by Buniatishvili’s performance of Rhapsody in Blue. A lively party in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby followed, featuring small bites and cocktails by a variety of local restaurants and distilleries.
“The Opening Night Gala was especially meaningful this year,” said Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall President & CEO Krishna Thiagarajan. “Last weekend, we honored one of our greatest supporters, Delta Air Lines, and the mission-critical community initiatives it helps us deliver. Now is an exciting time for the Seattle Symphony and our community as we anticipate the arrival of our recently announced Music Director, Xian Zhang, who is passionately aligned with our mission to make Benaroya Hall a place where everyone feels at home. We could not be more grateful for the monumental amount of support from our community, continuing our recovery from the pandemic together while ushering in a new era with an exciting future for all!”
“The Seattle Symphony and Benaroya Hall play a critical role in both downtown Seattle and throughout the Puget Sound,” said Chief Development & Project Officer Maria K. Yang. “The Symphony facilitates many community-based programs, working to increase access to music and educational programs throughout the region, with a focus on communities in predominantly low-income areas. At the 2024/2025 Opening Night Gala, we paid tribute to Delta Air Lines and the support it has given our community and education programs for over 20 years.”
2024/2025 Opening Night Gala Committee
Susan Coughlin, co-chair
Patricia Rosen, co-chair
Leslie Jackson Chihuly
Lyn Grinstein
Douglas Jackson
Oraib Kabbani
Noriko Okada
Paul Rafanelli
Andrea Snyder
Susan Winokur
2024/2025 Opening Night Party Committee
Diena Mann, chair
Halle Campbell
Eric Jacobs
Tiffany Moss
Erika Nesholm
Claire Taylor
Krishna Thiagarajan's position is generously underwritten as the Leslie Jackson Chihuly President & CEO.
Ludovic Morlot’s position is generously underwritten as the Judith Fong Conductor Emeritus.
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has won five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony+ streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.
BENAROYA HALL
Benaroya Hall, the home of the Seattle Symphony, is located in downtown Seattle. Opened in 1998, Benaroya Hall is the most-visited performing arts venue in Seattle. It has received numerous awards, including a 2001 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Award for outstanding architecture. Benaroya Hall has three versatile performance venues, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall and Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, all renowned for their pristine acoustics, luxurious design and prime location. For additional information, including rental information, event listings and public tour schedules, please visit benaroyahall.org.
###