Donna Summer To Headline “THE Concert”, New Annual Benefit for the Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony announced this week that five-time Grammy award winner Donna Summer will headline “THE Concert”, the new annual benefit for The Phoenix Symphony. Shifting its annual Gala in a new direction for the 2010/11 Season, The Phoenix Symphony will present a grand evening of music, dinner and dancing. Previously held annually on New Year’s Eve, the 2010/11 Gala will be held on October 16, 2010 and will feature the talents of Donna Summer and The Phoenix Symphony under the baton of The Virginia G. Piper Music Director, Michael Christie. “THE Encore” dinner party will feature short performances by some of the Valley’s most talented, young musicians.

The incomparable Donna Summer is an international superstar and winner of 5 Grammy awards, numerous American Music Awards, and has sold over 130 million records worldwide. Ms. Summer also holds the distinction of being the only artist to have three consecutive #1 platinum double albums. With the nickname “Queen of Divas,” she ranks number 24 in the list of Hot 100 Artists of All Time by Billboard Magazine.

At 6:30 pm, The Phoenix Symphony will take the stage for a concert featuring Donna Summer. Following the concert, musical vignettes by members of the Phoenix Youth Symphony will escort patrons to The Phoenix Convention Center for an evening filled with dinner and dancing. A sumptuous dinner prepared by Chef Jesus Cibrian will be served at 9:00 pm. Considered one of the Valley’s premiere social gatherings, the Symphony’s Gala remains the only such event to feature live music played by a full symphony orchestra each year.

Tickets for “THE Concert” and “THE Encore” (starting at $500) give patrons access to the entire evening’s events from the cocktail reception to the concert at Symphony Hall, followed by the evening of dinner, dancing to the music of Affinity at The Phoenix Convention Center. Corporate sponsorships and tables are also available.

A limited number of tickets for the “THE Concert” performance with Donna Summer ($250) allow patrons to kick off their Gala experience in style with Ms. Summer live at Symphony Hall.

Gala chairs Nan & C.A. Howlett promise a spectacular evening. "We're thrilled to have Donna Summer share her incredible talent with our concert guests this year," said Nan Howlett, "Ms. Summer has such a beloved repertoire which will make this a magical night for all."

Since 1954, the annual benefit has been held to raise money in support of the Symphony. Over the past five decades, the efforts and extraordinary accomplishments of the Gala’s hundreds of dedicated volunteers have raised over $15 million. The proceeds from this year’s event are earmarked toward supporting The Phoenix Symphony’s education, outreach, and artistic activities, including concerts for school children, family programs, and other presentations throughout the state of Arizona serving more than 300,000 adults, children, and families each year.

For more information about “THE Concert”, contact The Phoenix Symphony Development Office at 602-495-1117, ext. 422.