Saturday, October 10, 2026
Symphony Ball is a benefit event that raises funds to support the multifaceted work of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, from industry-leading artistic programs to educational and community engagement initiatives that nurture tens of thousands of people in Chicago and around the world annually.
Schedule for the Evening
5:30 PM: Preconcert celebration — Symphony Center
Open to gala general admission guests and ticketholders; includes the red carpet experience and prosecco toast.
5:30 PM: VIP reception — Symphony Center’s Forte Event Space
Reserved for VIP Experience patrons and event sponsors.
6:30 PM: Concert — Orchestra Hall
Celebrate the 2026/27 Season in grand fashion as Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä leads a musical journey to the opulent Babylon of Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast. The renowned baritone Thomas Hampson joins the CSO for this dramatic cantata, which Walton fills with lavish orchestral colors, mighty choruses and hints of jazz. The musical celebration begins with Stravinsky’s dazzling tale of puppets springing to life amid a fantastical Russian carnival.
Immediately after the concert, all gala patrons and sponsors enjoy dinner and festivities at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Transportation will be provided.
Cocktail attire
For more information, please reach out or call 312-294-3185.
Individual Tickets
VIP Box Seating Experience — $5,000
- One Box Level seat
- Private preconcert reception
- Postconcert gala dinner
- CSO Principal Chair musician or Chicago Symphony Chorus member seated at your dinner table
- Name recognition in the concert program, on the webpage and in the gala booklet
VIP Experience — $2,500
- One Melk Main Floor or Fadim Lower Balcony seat
- Private preconcert reception
- Postconcert gala dinner
- Name recognition in the concert program, on the webpage and in the gala booklet
Gala General Admission — $1,500
- One Fadim Lower Balcony seat
- Postconcert gala dinner
- Name recognition in the gala booklet and on the webpage
Additional Support
Can’t attend the event? Support Symphony Ball by making a gift.
Musician Gala Sponsorship
Sponsorship for a CSO musician and one guest to attend the postconcert dinner — $1,500
Sponsorships
Exclusive Presenting Sponsor — $125,000
- 20 Box Level seats
- Private preconcert reception
- Two tables for 20 guests total at the postconcert gala dinner
- CSO Principal Chair musician or Chorus member seated at your dinner table
- Name/logo recognition in the concert program, on the webpage, in the gala booklet and on signage
- Recognition in the concert and dinner remarks
Presenting Sponsor — $100,000
- 20 Box Level seats
- Private preconcert reception
- Two tables for 20 guests total at the postconcert gala dinner
- CSO Principal Chair musician or Chorus member seated at your dinner table
- Name/logo recognition in the concert program, on the webpage, in the gala booklet and on signage
- Recognition in the concert and dinner remarks
Chorus Sponsor — $75,000
- 10 Box Level seats
- Private preconcert reception
- One table for 10 guests at the postconcert gala dinner
- CSO Principal Chair musician or Chorus member seated at your dinner table
- Name/logo recognition in the concert program, on the webpage, in the gala booklet and on signage
- Recognition in the concert and dinner remarks
Platinum Sponsor — $50,000
- 10 Melk Main Floor or 8 Box Level seats (limited Box Level seating)
- Private preconcert reception
- One table for 8-10 guests at the postconcert gala dinner
- CSO musician seated at your dinner table
- Name/logo recognition in the concert program, on the webpage, in the gala booklet and on signage
Gold Sponsor — $25,000
- 8 Melk Main Floor or Fadim Lower Balcony seats
- Private preconcert reception
- One table for eight guests at the postconcert gala dinner
- Name/logo recognition in the concert program, on the webpage, in the gala booklet and on signage
Silver Sponsor — $15,000
- 8 Fadim Lower Balcony seats
- Private preconcert reception
- One table for eight guests at the postconcert gala dinner
- Name/logo recognition in the concert program, on the webpage, in the gala booklet and on signage
Symphony Ball’s Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Chorus Sponsor
Platinum Sponsors
The Negaunee Foundation
Bill and Cathy Osborn
Andrew Pritzker
Gold Sponsors
Sharon Angell
Anonymous
Lori Julian
Nancy and E. Scott Santi
Steve and Megan Shebik
Helen G. and Richard L. Thomas
Laura and Terrence Truax
Zell Family Foundation
Silver Sponsors
AAR CORP
Charles Schwab
Jennifer Christensen and Gifford R. Zimmerman
Goldman Sachs & Co.
Helen Han and Dan Pan
Mayer Brown LLP
Paul and Lynne McDonough
McGuireWoods LLP
PNC
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
VIP Box Experience Patrons
Robert J. Bailey and Kevin O’Brien
Hannah and Brett Harrison
Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett
Shelley Ochab and Chester Gougis
LeAnn Pedersen Pope and Clyde Smith McGregor
Cynthia and Michael Scholl
VIP Experience Patrons
Peter and Elise Barack
Elizabeth Berry and Philip S. Revzin
Britta Bolin and Peter Kupferberg
Orit Carpenter
Suzanne and Charles Demirjian
Global Verification Network
Lionel and Mary Go
Mariam Hakim-Zargar
Suzanne Hoffman
William and Colette Rodon Hornof
Elizabeth Jia and Andy Salk
Toni-Marie Montgomery
Gala General Admission Patrons
Ila Bahuguna-Mehta and Neil Mehta
Cynthia Bates
Jacqui Cheng and Clint Ecker
Judith E. Feldman
Sarah Good and Mark Mosley
Barbara Greis
GCM Grosvenor
Nancy Hess and John Zautcke
Mary Lee and Michael Gosz
Peter Litton and Jill Rein
Mirjana Martich and Zoran Lazarevic
Rose Murphy
Victoria Nee
Brad Pohlman and Julie Callsen
John and Heidi Rogers
Sandy Rusnak
Ruthie and Rich Ryan
Leah Simmons
Susan Taylor
Paul Wierbicki
Dr. Tommy Zakrzewski and Heather Haskin
Contributors
Liz Branch
Larry and Patricia Booth
Rosemarie and Dean L.† Buntrock
Rachel Cowen and Sharon Llamas
Juli Crabtree and Donald Horvath
Elisa Harris and Ivo Daalder
Anna and Mark Hertsberg
Laurance C. Martin
Tim Martin
Scott and Judy McCue
McKinsey & Company
Alex Ripley
Courtney Shea
In-Kind Donors
Arla
New Moon Chicago
VH Designs
Overture Council
Benjamin Bauer
Jacob Bonnema
Matthew Fry
Benjamin Stewart
Ken Zhang
Media Partners
Photos from last year’s event:
Hosted by the Women’s Board
