19th Annual Symphony Lovers' Ball - Most Successful Ever!

The 19^th Annual Symphony Lovers’Äô Ball ’Äì

Most Successful Ever!

Vancouver BC ’Äì The Vancouver Symphony announces that the 19th Annual Symphony Lovers' Ball held on Thursday, February 12^th, 2009, in the Pacific Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver was the most successful ever, thanks in great part to the critical support of our sponsors in Vancouver’Äôs corporate community! We are thrilled to report that this event netted $620,000 to VSO operations.

Hosted by Master of Ceremonies Christopher Gaze, Vancouver’Äôs very own Bard, more than 400 guests enjoyed an evening inspired by the remarkable achievements of this past year: winning a GRAMMY and a JUNO award, the Raymond James Beethoven Festival (all nine of Beethoven’Äôs symphonies performed chronologically), the Wall Centre Brahms Festival (all four of Brahms symphonies performed chronologically, as well as all of his concertos), and the VSO’Äôs triumphant Asia-Pacific Tour to China, South Korea, and the Special Administrative Region of Macau. Later this season, commencing May 1^st, the VSO will also tour Eastern Canada, making stops in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Ottawa.

’ÄúThe entire Symphony Lovers’Äô Ball Committee is so proud to support the VSO,’Äù said Maria Menten, Volunteer Chair of the Lovers’Äô Ball Committee. ’ÄúTo have raised more than ever before is especially thrilling given today’Äôs economic climate. It really speaks to the understanding of the VSO’Äôs value as a pillar of our community, and a cultural pillar of our society. We couldn’Äôt be happier!’Äù

Vancouver Symphony Society Chair, Arthur Willms stated, ’ÄúThanks to our extraordinary volunteers, dedicated sponsors and generous attendees, this year’Äôs Symphony Lovers’Äô Ball was a particular triumph. Not only did we raise more money than ever before in benefit our community’Äôs cultural cornerstone, but we did it during incredibly tough economic times. This year, over 50,000 children will experience the wonder of the VSO through various educational initiatives and programs, thanks to such thoughtful generosity.’Äù

The funds raised at the annual Symphony Lovers’Äô Balls support the VSO's performances each season of more than 140 concerts featuring over 60 celebrated guest artists attended by more than 250,000 people in 12 venues throughout the Lower Mainland. It also contributes to VSO education programs that reach more than 50,000 children each year. Since its inception in 1991, the Symphony Lovers' Ball has netted over $5 million in support of the Vancouver Symphony's many projects and continuing operations.

The Vancouver Symphony gratefully acknowledges the following for their generous support of the Nineteenth Annual Symphony Lovers’Äô Ball:

SUPER SPONSORS

Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Concord Pacific Group Inc.

Deloitte

Ernst & Young LLP

Goldcorp Inc.

HSBC Bank Canada

Pacific Newspaper Group

Wesbild Holdings Ltd.

We would also like to thank the following for their generous support

Chan Foundation of Canada ’Äì Rix Family Foundation

EVENT SPONSORS

Anthem Properties

Eminata Group

Peter Kiewit Sons Co.

Larco Investments Ltd.

Polygon Homes Ltd.

Raymond James

Rennie Marketing Systems

TELUS

We would also like to thank the following for their generous support

Arthur H. Willms & Mary Ann Clark

MAESTRO’ÄôS CIRCLE

Allied Holdings

CIBC World Markets

Kingwood Capital Corporation

KPMG LLP

Larkspur Foundation

Michael O'Brian Foundation for the Arts

Opus Hotels - Stikeman Elliott

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Spectra Energy

CONCERTMASTER’ÄôS CIRCLE

Deans Knight - Haywood Securities

Genus Capital Management

Philips, Hager & North

Stikeman Elliott

The James and Kathleen Winton Foundation