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DENVER — Wednesday, April 9 — The Fillmore Auditorium may never be the same. On Saturday, April 5, the Colorado Symphony transformed the palatial concert venue into a ballroom — albeit one with plenty of rock-and-roll attitude. The Colorado Symphony Ball: From Bach…to Rock! The Battle of the Bands drew Denver’s business and cultural leaders to the most fun — and succesful — event in the Ball’s 21-year history, raising nearly $1.2 million to support the musicians of the Colorado Symphony.
The year’s most exciting gala featured dining, dancing, a live and silent auction, and the presentation of the Margaret Phipps Award to Governor John Hickenlooper. The honor was presented by Mary Rossick Kern and Jerome H. Kern, Co-Chairs of the Colorado Symphony Board of Trustees; Jerome H. Kern serves as the Colorado Symphony’s CEO.
The Colorado Symphony Ball 2014 was co-chaired by DaVita’s Kent Thiry and Denise O’Leary and presented by Arrow Electronics and DaVita, with additional support from Liberty Global and The Malone Family Foundation. Founded in 1993 by Sharon Magness Blake and Mary Rossick Kern, the Colorado Symphony Ball is the orchestra’s largest annual fundraiser.
Highlights of the Colorado Symphony Ball 2014:
- The event raised nearly $1.2 million, exceeding last year’s total by more than $270,000.
- After a spirited and well-played competition among the Moderators, the DaVita Blues All Stars and the Colorado Symphony, the Moderators won the Battle of the Bands. The Battle generated nearly $100,000 in votes, valued at $1 each. This amount was matched by a generous, anonymous donor. The Moderators are a Denver band composed of CEOs from Colorado’s largest companies.
- A true music lover and supporter of the Colorado Symphony, Governor John Hickenlooper donned a mop-top wig and joined the Moderators for an extended Beatles medley.
- DaVita CEO Kent Thiry joined the DaVita Blues All Stars for a rousing rendition of “Old Time Rock-and-Roll.”
- The live auction generated a record $160,000; Jerry Kern’s silver 1999 SL600 Mercedes was the top seller.
- The Colorado Symphony Ball drew a multi-generational crowd of more than 750 guests, including members of the United States Armed Forces. The crowd reflected the theme of “Black Tie with Rock Flair” in creative and fun ways.
Click here for photos and videos of the Colorado Symphony Ball 2014.
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