Thank you for your loyal support of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association. With your engagement and presence as a CSO family member, the CSO enriches and transforms lives around the city, country and world.
A host of talented artists have graced the Symphony Center stage this season, guided by the leadership of Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä and Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti. A highlight has been the presence of CSO Artist-in-Residence Joyce DiDonato, who first appeared at Symphony Center this season for the annual Symphony Ball concert. She then returned with string trio Time For Three to bring 24 vivid Emily Dickinson poems to life, featuring music from Pulitzer Prizewinning composer Kevin Puts. For her third appearance this season, DiDonato sings Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs alongside the Orchestra and conductor Edward Gardner.
As we celebrate the memorable moments of this season, we also look ahead to the 2026/27 Season. From the appearances of distinguished conductors and noteworthy artist debuts to iconic films brought to the big screen in Orchestra Hall, the CSO has a wide variety of programming for all audiences to enjoy.
Critical to the continued success of the Orchestra’s mission are the generous bequests made by members of the Theodore Thomas Society. These legacy gifts, at all levels, ensure that future generations continue to experience the life-changing music of live CSO performances.
Thank you for all you do in support of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association.
Sincerely,
Mary Louise Gorno Chair, CSOA Board of Trustees Chair, Theodore Thomas Society
Theodore Thomas
JOIN THE
Named in honor of the founding music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Theodore Thomas Society recognizes those who make financial plans — in any amount — to benefit the CSO in the future.
What
benefits come with Theodore Thomas Society membership?
◆ Annual Theodore Thomas Society event in connection with a performance at Symphony Center
◆ Access to VIP ticketing services
◆ Listing in CSO online donor listings and in the annual report (those who wish to remain anonymous may do so)
◆ Invitation for two to the CSOA’s Annual Meeting
◆ Invitation for two to CSO open rehearsals and backstage tours for donors
◆ Opportunity to share your CSO story in a featured profile
Stradivarian Associates, a unique group within the Society, are those members who provide documentation for a planned gift of $100,000 or more. They receive all benefits of Society membership, plus:
◆ Full dining membership privileges in the Thomas Club at Symphony Center
◆ Invitation for two to attend Salon Series events each season
◆ Invitations to exclusive behind-the-scenes receptions
◆ Listing in the donor wall display on the historic Orchestra Hall main staircase
We can help!
For more information contact the CSOA’s development office at 312-294-3100 or gifts@cso.org, or visit cso.org/plannedgiving.
MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE
Patrick and Patrice Wooldridge Stradivarian Associates
What inspires your love of music? Patrick: When I was a child, I fondly recall falling asleep to Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite. During the day, I particularly liked “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Grieg (but they would not play it at night, since it would get me all riled up). I feel tremendous gratitude to my parents for exposing me to music at an early age.
Patrice: My grandmother was a coloratura soprano. She took my mother to hear Patrice Munsel at the Metropolitan Opera — that’s how I got my name! Classical music was always playing in our home.
What initially drew you to the CSO? Patrice: With seven children, my mom had to be clever in finding ways to provide live music. She’d fill the station wagon with all of us to go to the CSO’s summer concerts. Sitting outside on the grass and listening to the music seemed like magic.
I always knew I’d attend CSO concerts in Orchestra Hall as soon as I was able. In high school, I made enough money to take the train from the suburbs and attend Sunday matinees in the Gallery seats!
Why do you think it’s important to support the CSOA as a member of the Theodore Thomas Society? Patrick: Orchestral music has been a constant source of joy and inspiration for me. I feel called to try to help future generations enjoy and appreciate this awesome legacy. The children of Chicago (and the world) deserve the chance to appreciate the wonders of orchestral music, and I feel blessed to be able to contribute to the preservation and perpetuation of this rich and beautiful tradition.
Photography by Todd Rosenberg and Elliot Mandel
SOCIETY
Christoph Ptack Stradivarian Associate
What inspires your love of music? Music has an extraordinary ability to express what words often cannot. Whether it’s symphonic, operatic, pop, country or something entirely different, we are all drawn to the emotional depth and human connection that music makes possible.
For me, music is the perfect fusion of technical mastery and profound storytelling. The power of a single performance to move an entire audience reflects the discipline and grace that define music.
What initially drew you to the CSO? Born and raised on Chicago’s North Shore, and serving as principal flute in the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, I was fortunate to have early access to Orchestra Hall — both as a performer and a devoted fan. From a young age, I admired Donald Peck (CSO principal flute) and was captivated by the Orchestra’s unmistakable sound and artistic excellence. It was always clear that the CSO was more than just a great orchestra — it was a cultural institution that played a pivotal role in shaping my life and career as a leader in the performing arts sector.
Why do you think it’s important to support the CSOA as a member of the Theodore Thomas Society? Because it’s my way of helping ensure the longevity and vitality of one of the world’s great cultural institutions. The CSO has enriched countless lives through its artistry, educational programs and community outreach, and I believe it’s essential to preserve that legacy for future generations. Through my planned gift from The Christoph G. Ptack Trust, I can contribute to the orchestra’s financial stability and artistic excellence, while honoring the values of creativity, excellence and access that the CSO represents.
Symphony Orchestra
Legal Name: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Address: 220 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604
Tax ID Number: 36-2167823
Sample language:
◆ For a specific dollar amount bequest: “I hereby give and bequeath $ from my estate to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, Chicago, Illinois, for its general purposes.”
◆ For a percentage-based remainder bequest: “I hereby give and bequeath all (or %) of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, Chicago, Illinois, for its general purposes.”
Name the CSO as a beneficiary of your retirement plan.
◆ Most retirement plans have simple beneficiary designation forms that you can fill out online or download to print and complete. Your financial advisor could help you if you are not easily able to find the forms.
◆ Naming the CSO as a beneficiary of your retirement plan usually offers an important tax advantage since most retirement plans are subject to income taxes if left to an individual. If the CSO is named as a beneficiary, the CSO does not pay income or estate taxes on the distribution.
Did you know?
On the Road with Theodore Thomas
After leading the Chicago Orchestra’s inaugural concerts at the Auditorium Theatre on October 16 and 17, 1891, founder and first music director Theodore Thomas took his fledgling ensemble on the road, giving concerts in Rockford and Milwaukee before returning home for the second week of subscription concerts. Over the following months, between subscription weeks, they were off to Louisville, Saint Louis, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Minneapolis, among other cities. During that first season, the Orchestra gave more than 50 concerts outside of Chicago, traveling to 18 cities throughout the Midwest and performing more on tour than in their hometown.
Throughout Thomas’ tenure (from 1891 until 1905), the Orchestra toured extensively, from Massachusetts to Alabama, to Texas and Colorado, from Wyoming to North Dakota. They embarked on the first of four visits to Canada in 1892; made their New York City debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1896; first appeared in Carnegie Hall in 1898; and performed at numerous May festivals between 1892 and 1904, including dozens of concerts at the biennial Cincinnati May Festival (founded by Thomas in 1873).
The first known image of the Chicago Orchestra, taken on the steps of the Saint Louis Exposition Hall on March 14, 1892
Express your lifelong passion for music with a planned gift.
Your future support — in any amount — of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra can:
◆ Strengthen the Orchestra and musical programs you love.
◆ Create opportunities for new audiences to discover and grow their love of music.
◆ Achieve tax savings and income opportunities for you today and your heirs in the future.
Read this gift-planning newsletter to learn more.
Planned gifts support transformational experiences
NEWS AND PROJECTS
◆ Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä led his first tour with the Orchestra in late February, visiting Ann Arbor, Michigan; Carnegie Hall in New York City; Bethesda, Maryland, and Boston, Massachusetts, to perform music by Beethoven, Berlioz, Sibelius and Richard Strauss. This excursion marked Mäkelä’s first performance with the CSO at Carnegie Hall.
◆ In March, the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO presented IMPACT: Showcasing Education & Community Programs of the CSO. The evening spotlighted musicians from many of the Institute’s transformative programs, including the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the Percussion Scholarship Program and Notes for Peace.
◆ In June, Symphony Center marks America’s 250th anniversary with performances that honor the nation’s rich and evolving cultural landscape. Highlights include the Midwest premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Liberty Symphony with the CSO and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop and pianist Conrad Tao’s recital with music by American composers.
