(Boston August 5, 2020) The Handel and Haydn Society will hold a special digital gala Saturday, September 26. The Society Ball was originally scheduled for May 2 but was postponed and then had to move online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital Society Ball will feature newly-recorded performances from H+H musicians and students, and a special message from Artistic Director Harry Christophers, who just agreed to extend his contract through the 2021-22 season. The H+H musicians who will perform include Aisslinn Nosky, concertmaster; Guy Fishman, principal cello; and Emi Ferguson, principal flute. The occasion will also honor board members Julia Cox and Nicholas Gleysteen, and include an online auction. The Society Ball: A Virtual Soirée will take place Saturday, September 26 at 6:30pm EDT at handelandhaydn.org. Guests can view the livestream of the gala for free, or purchase a Virtual Pass for additional exclusive access to performances, a cocktail hour with H+H musicians, and a VIP gift box. Proceeds from this event will support the Handel and Haydn Society education and artistic programs.
Julia Cox joined the Handel and Haydn Society board in 2006 and has served as Vice Chair since 2012 as well as chair of the Investment Committee. Nicholas Gleysteen joined the board in 2004 and served as Chair of the Board from 2010-2015, including a successful capital campaign and Bicentennial celebration.
“The Handel and Haydn Society is a better organization thanks in large part to the passion and dedication of our musicians and educators, and we are excited to feature them in this new virtual format,” said David Snead, President and CEO of the Handel and Haydn Society. “We also look forward to bringing together supporters of H+H from near and far. Our loyal patrons have been invaluable in helping H+H weather the current pandemic.”
Guests that would like to purchase a Virtual Pass will be treated to a number of special benefits including access to a VIP Zoom breakout room with H+H musicians and a special VIP gift box. Virtual Passes begin at $250 and are available now at handelandhaydn.org/support/the-society-ball/.
The Society Ball will take place Saturday, September 26 at 6:30pm EDT at handelandhaydn.org/support/the-society-ball/.
About the Handel and Haydn Society
Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society is dedicated to performing Baroque and Classical music with a freshness, a vitality, and a creativity that inspires all ages. H+H has been captivating audiences for 205 consecutive seasons (the most of any performing arts organization in the United States). Today, H+H’s Orchestra and Chorus delight more than 50,000 listeners annually with a nine-week subscription series at Boston Symphony Hall and other leading venues. Through the Karen S. and George D. Levy Education Program, H+H supports seven youth choirs of singers in grades 2-12 and provides thousands of complimentary tickets to students and communities throughout Boston, ensuring the joy of music is accessible to all. H+H’s numerous free community concerts include an annual commemoration of the original 1863 Emancipation Proclamation concert on December 31. The artistic director of the Handel and Haydn Society is Harry Christophers. Under Christophers’s leadership, H+H has released 12 CDs on the Coro label and has toured nationally and internationally. In all these ways, H+H fulfills its mission to inspire the intellect, touch the heart, elevate the soul, and connect us with our shared humanity through transformative experiences with Baroque and Classical music.
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