25th Season Gala
Memories from the 2004–2005
25th Season Gala: A Sterling Gala
Celebrating 25 Years of San Francisco Performances
On Friday, October 1st, San Francisco Performances inaugurated its 25th Anniversary Season by presenting A Sterling Gala at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Forum and Theatre. The evening featured many memorable moments celebrating President Ruth Felt's and San Francisco Performances' 25-year history.
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Click on each thumbnail image to see the full-size photograph with caption.
Among the 400 guests were Mario Diaz and Joanne Schultz, representatives from Title Sponsor Wells Fargo, Honorary Chair James H. Schwabacher, Jr, San Francisco Performances Trustees, and many local business, civic and cultural leaders.
The festivities began with a cocktail reception in the theater lobby. Guests then made their way to the Forum which was decorated in vivid hues of burnt orange and green where they enjoyed a delicious dinner provided by McCall Catering.
Gala Chairs Roswitha Goeppert-Woolley, Philomena King and Larissa Roesch kicked off the evening by welcoming the guests. Board Chair Gussie Stewart thanked the evening's sponsors and patrons, and introduced SFP Trustee Mark Pittsey of Wells Fargo, who spoke eloquently about Wells Fargo's strong commitment to the arts and San Francisco Performances. Gussie Stewart then returned to the stage accompanied by Honorary Chair and Founding Member James Schwabacher,Jr. who shared fond memories of his 25-year association with the organization. They then introduced Ruth Felt who shared with guests some of her special memories and her appreciation of the many people who have contributed to SFP's success. As a final coda to the evening's remarks, Ms. Stewart and Mr. Schwabacher surprised Ruth by presenting her with a magnum of 1979 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet, donated by Ted Hall of the Mondavi Corporation.
After dinner, everyone moved to the theater to enjoy a performance of music and dance celebrating the excitement, passion, and risk-taking that have made San Francisco Performances a leading international presenter. Charles Hamlen, Executive Director of Classical Action: Performing Arts Against Aids hosted a dazzling array of performers including SFP Founding Member pianist André Watts; mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, accompanied by composer and pianist Jake Heggie; The Eroica Trio, vibraphonist and SFP jazz-artist-in-residence Stefon Harris; and Paul Taylor's second dance company, Taylor 2.
Interspersed throughout the performances were videotaped tributes from renowned artists that included Anne-Sophie Mutter, Dawn Upshaw, Evgeny Kissin, and Barbara Bonney and Thomas Hampson who were videotaped together on a golf course in Salzburg. The evening also included a dynamic video highlighting SFP's award-winning education programs.
Following the concert, guests returned to the Forum which had been transformed with luxurious shades of red and purple. Greeted by trays of champagne, the guests enjoyed a sumptuous assortment of desserts and danced to the swinging sounds of local favorite Stompy Jones. Taylor 2 dancers joined the gala guests jitterbugging the night away.
In total the Gala raised more than $235,000 in support of San Francisco Performances' education and community programs, making this the most successful gala in our history.
Previous Years’ Season Galas
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