KD Lang

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang to Headline the San Francisco Symphony’s 2010 Black & White Ball Saturday, May 22, with Special Concert at Davies Symphony Hall

Kool & the Gang to Headline Post-Concert Party at War Memorial Performing Arts Center, Featuring 10 Bands on Five Stages, Live Music, Dancing, Food, Drinks and the Midnight Surprise

Black & White Ball to Benefit SFS Adventures in Music Education Program

Presenting Sponsor: AT&T, Chaired by Patricia Sprincin

SAN FRANCISCO, January 12, 2010 — The San Francisco Symphony has announced that Grammy Award-winning recording artists Tony Bennett and k.d. lang will headline the San Francisco Symphony’s 2010 Black & White Ball on Saturday, May 22, performing in a concert that will include duets as well as individual performances at Davies Symphony Hall at 8 p.m. R&B legends Kool & The Gang will headline the post-concert Party at San Francisco’s War Memorial Performing Arts Center, which will be transformed into one of the country’s most elegant party venues, featuring 10 bands on five stages, live music, dancing, food, drinks and the rollicking midnight surprise.

All proceeds from the evening will support the Symphony’s nationally acclaimed Adventures in Music education program, which provides comprehensive music education to every single child in grades 1- 5 of San Francisco public elementary schools.

As the world’s most boyish octogenarian and a vital musical artist at the peak of his powers, Tony Bennett is not just the singer’s singer, but an international treasure honored by the United Nations with its Citizen of the World award, which aptly describes the scope of his accomplishments. With worldwide record sales in the millions and dozens of platinum and gold albums to his credit, Tony Bennett has received fifteen Grammy Awards – including two in 1995 for his MTV Unplugged album and the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Bennett, whose signature hit “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” also earned him two Grammy awards, is one of a handful of artists to have new albums chart in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and into the new millennium.

Over the last 20 years, k.d. lang has lent her voice to an astonishing range of material, from Nashville tearjerkers to Tin Pan Alley torch songs, from playful cow-punk tunes to sultry, grown-up pop. The singer from Alberta, Canada has won eight Junos and four Grammys, including one for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her collaboration with Tony Bennett on A Wonderful World, and continues to create compelling original material. Recollection, the best of k.d. lang, will be released on CD/DVD February 9, 2010.

Kool & The Gang have sold over 70 million albums worldwide and influenced the music of three generations. Thanks to songs like “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness” and “Open Sesame,” they’ve earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 top ten R&B hits, nine top ten pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums. Kool & The Gang have performed continuously for the past 35 years, longer than any R&B group in history.  Their bulletproof funk and tough, jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled band of all time.

The 2010 Black & White Ball offers a variety of ways to experience one of the Bay Area’s best-loved community events.  The special Tony Bennett & k.d. lang Concert + Party Pass ($325) allows patrons to start off their Ball experience in grand style with two legendary performers on stage in Davies Symphony Hall.  The Party Pass ($200) provides Ball entry at 9 p.m. and access to all five Performing Arts Center venues and outdoor stages for live dance music, food and refreshments until 1 a.m. Additional details regarding venues, food, and specific Latin, rock, jazz, and pop music bands will be announced March 16 when the Party Pass goes on sale.

Three additional VIP options are also available:  beginning at 5 p.m., the Patrons’ Dinner ($1000 - $2500) will be set in a magnificent tented pavilion resplendent with décor by Robert Fountain Design. Also at 5 p.m., the SF Symphony League’s Supper Club ($375-$600) will offer up its own swank cocktail reception and dinner in the elegant Veterans Building Green Room. The high-voltage Bash Beyond the Ball, presented by Symphonix ($375-$600), the Symphony’s young professionals group, follows the Tony Bennett and k.d. lang concert in a transformed Veteran’s Building Green Room. Robert Fountain will design both Green Room events. All three VIP dinner packages include seating in Davies Symphony Hall for the Tony Bennett and k.d. lang concert performance as well as the Party Pass with access to live dance music, food and refreshments until 1 a.m.

The 2010 Black & White Ball reunites the winning leadership duo of Caterer McCall Associates and Ball Chair Patricia Sprincin.

“I’m honored to return as chair of the Black and White Ball, a marvelous Symphony event for the entire community, which benefits our Adventures in Music education program,” commented Patricia Sprincin. “I know the experience will be unforgettable, beginning with a truly special concert by Tony Bennett and k.d. lang, who will kick off the ball with such elegance and excitement. From our special dinners to offering 10 bands on five stages of live music and dancing, I know this year’s Ball is going to a be a ‘night of nights’ and something not to be missed.”

Patricia Sprincin, community charity advocate extraordinaire, will lead a distinguished committee of Bay Area volunteers including Patrons Dinner Co-chairs Lydia Beebe and Patricia C. Dunn, Supper Club Co-chairs Tori Brant and Trish Otstott, and Bash Beyond the Ball Co-chairs Gwyneth Borden and Bob Perun.

“AT&T is a longtime supporter of the San Francisco Symphony and we’re very pleased to serve once again as the presenting sponsor of the 2010 Black and White Ball,” said Ken McNeely, president, AT&T California. “One of AT&T’s key philanthropic goals is to support education and to connect people to learning opportunities, so we’re delighted to help the San Francisco Symphony bring music education to children in the San Francisco public school system with proceeds raised from the 2010 Black and White Ball.”

The San Francisco Symphony's Black & White Ball began in 1956 under the direction of Anna Logan Upton, with musical presentations featured at four notable San Francisco hotels. With the completion of Davies Symphony Hall in 1980, the Black & White Ball relocated to San Francisco's then new Performing Arts Center in 1982, where it continued to grow with the addition of other venues and the contribution of San Francisco's rock 'n' roll, jazz and Latin music community.

Due to earthquake retrofitting at numerous Civic Center buildings, the Black & White Ball moved to the Embarcadero in 1995 and 1997. The Ball came home to the Civic Center in 1999 under the direction of Chairman Brenda Jewett. Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, responsible for reviving the Ball in its current form, served as chairman in 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1987. Recent past chairmen include Mrs. John S. Renard in 1989, Helen Schwab in 1991 and 1993, and Laura K. Pfaff in 1995 and 1997. Brenda Jewett chaired the Ball in 1999 and was followed by Yurie Pascarella in 2001 and 2003. Patricia Sprincin chaired the Black & White Ball in 2005 and 2008, and she returns to chair the Ball in 2010.

Tickets are on sale now for the following 2010 Black & White Ball experiences: Tony Bennett & k.d. lang Concert + Party Pass ($325); Symphonix Bash Beyond the Ball ($375-$600); Supper Club ($375-$600); and Patrons’ Dinner ($1000-$2500). All three dinners include premium concert seating for the Tony Bennett & k.d. lang Concert and the Party Pass. The Black & White Ball Party Pass ($200) will go on sale March 16. Tickets are available by phone, call (415) 864-6000 or visit www.sfsymphony.org/ball. For Dinner Packages, call (415) 503-5500.