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LPO Benefit Concert 2024-25
Thank You for Making Our Benefit Concert a Success!
On Saturday, January 18, 2025, nearly 1,200 community members joined us at the Orpheum Theater for a powerful evening. Together, we celebrated the spirit and strength of New Orleans with an extraordinary performance of A Tale of God's Will: A Requiem for Katrina by Terence Blanchard and the LPO.
Thanks to your generosity, we raised $146,834 to support the LPO’s mission and programs!
These proceeds will directly fund vital education and community engagement initiatives like the LPO Academy and Musical Storytimes, which bring the joy of music to thousands of students and families across our region each year.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, partners, and attendees who made this special evening possible. Your support ensures that the music and culture of New Orleans continue to inspire generations to come.
BENEFIT CONCERT COMMITTEE
Brittany Major (Co-Chair)
Stephen M. Smith (Co-Chair)
Amy Ferguson
Nicole Fraser
Bernard Jaffe, M.D.
Virginia McDowell
Robin Reed
John Reeks
Shaquille Southwell
Honoring General Russel L. Honoré
LPO Board Chair Dr. Bernard Jaffe said it best: “How do we celebrate people in New Orleans? With music!”
Before the concert, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra proudly presented General Russel L. Honoré with the 2025 Crescendo Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership during the rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Katrina.
LPO Orchestra President John Reeks spoke from the heart, sharing his own experience:
"Like many of you, I am a native New Orleanian, and like many of you, my wife and I lost everything in the storm. But we came back. We rebuilt our lives, and we’re better than ever. And so is this orchestra. We came back. We had a lot of help from a lot of people, but one person stands out through his leadership of Joint Task Force Katrina to get the city back on its feet. So, on behalf of the LPO, we’d like to present General Honoré with the 2025 Crescendo Award for his service to New Orleans."
The audience responded with a resounding standing ovation, a testament to the deep gratitude and admiration felt for General Honoré’s service and impact.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
Dr. Barbara Beckman
Dr. William & Susan Hess
Major Services Inc.
Mr. & Mrs. Juergen F. A. Seifert
SILVER SPONSORS
Anonymous
Luis & Anne Banos
Susan Talley & Jay Gulotta
Dr. Stephen & Mrs. Nancy Hales
Dr. Bernard Jaffe
LPO Volunteers
Stephen M. Smith
BRONZE SPONSORS
Aylin Acikalin
Dr. Jacob Anderson & Mr. Geoffrey Philabaum
Valerie Besthoff
Julie Breitmeyer
Jason & Monique Doucette
Ferguson Freelance LLC
Ana & Juan Gershanik
Dov Glazer in honor of Bob & Valborg Gross
Charlotte & Bob Lewis
Drs. Ranney & Emel Mize
Courtney-Anne Sarpy
Westfield Hydraulics
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Christopher Barrilleaux
Diane Butler
The Historic New Orleans Collection
Scott & Janet Howard
Matthew & Mary Anne McQueen
Nurture Nursery
Mimi & Claude Schlesinger
Nancy Sorak
TREME4TREME
PERFORMANCE SPONSORS
