Icons and Innovators Gala

We invite you to join us for the Icons and Innovators Gala: Honoring Joan W. Harris. The evening, co-chaired by Ted Grady and Ross Slotten, Caryn and King Harris, and Nancy and Scott Santi, will begin with a cocktail reception and dinner on the Harris Theater’s elegantly tented rooftop, followed by a one-night-only performance in Deering McCormick Hall.

Embodying the Juilliard motto “play old music like it’s new and new music like it’s old,” Icons and Innovators features acclaimed and emerging artists affiliated with the legendary school with bold performances of new and celebrated works across music, dance, and theater.

Musical performances demonstrate vocal and instrumental mastery and exemplify ingenious collaboration. Midori brings Bach to the 21st century; Emanuel Ax interprets an excerpt from John Williams’s Sabrina; Nico Muhly and Nadia Sirota play Philip Glass and share Muhly‘s own dynamic composition; Caroline Shaw also performs work by Glass, as well as her own; and rising pianist Tony Siqi Yun performs the Chicago premiere of Shaw’s recent piano piece, created for him.

Vocalists Lauren Randolph and Laëtitia Hollard bring opera and Broadway, with Randolph performing an aria from Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila and Hollard performing Marvin Hamlisch’s winning “Disneyland.” Local students from Chicago’s own Merit School of Music also share their inspiring voices on the program. Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s recent composer-in-residence Jessie Montgomery introduces her moving work Peace which is performed by pianist Joshua Mhoon alongside cellist Noah Chen.

Dance offerings are equally impressive and varied, with rich, layered performances by some of today’s most exciting artists. American Ballet Theatre dancer Kayla Mak performs a contemporary solo set to a piano etude by Philip Glass, performed by Derek Wang. Morgan Clune and Elliot Hammans from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago perform an excerpt by revered choreographer Lar Lubovitch, joined by Joe Block, Jarien Jamanila, and Chicago’s beloved jazz master Kurt Elling. And Lounes Landri performs a recent solo by the groundbreaking contemporary choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith with music by Muhly.

Plus, rising actors Hollard and Emma Pfitzer Price portray work from Shakespeare to Anna Deavere Smith, who herself will give a special tribute to Joan W. Harris.

All together, these brilliant performances illuminate works from across time and disciplines to honor Joan W. Harris — a visionary leader who has laid the foundation for artists to thrive throughout her time and into the future.

At the center of the evening is a celebration of Joan W. Harris, a founder and the namesake of the Harris Theater, whose visionary leadership and philanthropy have shaped the performing arts in Chicago and across the nation. The Icons and Innovators Gala directly supports the Harris Theater’s mission to serve as Chicago’s home for music and dance, connecting diverse audiences with outstanding artists from across the city, the nation, and the world.

Tickets to the Icons and Innovators Gala can be purchased at https://event.harristheaterchicago.org/gala, or by contacting Emma Lawrence, Board and Donor Relations Coordinator, at elawrence@harristheaterchicago.org.

Two Ways to Attend Icons and Innovators 

Gala TicketsPerformance-Only Tickets  

Thank you to our Gala Supporters!*

Event Chairs

Ted Grady and Ross Slotten / Caryn and King Harris / Nancy and Scott Santi

Honorary Chairs

Damian Woetzel, President of The Juilliard School / Lori Dimun, Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols President and CEO, Harris Theater for Music and Dance

Icons and Innovators Performance
Lead Presenting Sponsor

Irving Harris Foundation
Abby McCormick O’Neil and D. Carroll Joynes

Icon Host Committee

Harris Family Foundation, Caryn and King Harris / ITW / Abby McCormick O’Neil and D. Carroll Joynes / Alexandra C. Nichols / Nancy and Scott Santi

Innovator Circle

Abbott / Ted Grady and Ross Slotten / Joan W. Harris and Louise Frank / Northern Trust and Claire and Michael O’Grady 

Visionary Benefactor

Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation / Paul S. Boulis / The Crown Family / Shana and Peter M. Ellis and Reed Smith LLP / Jim and Karen Frank / Jack and Sandra Guthman / Patricia A. Kenney and Gregory J. O’Leary / Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation / Marilyn F. and David J. Vitale 

Catalyst Support

AAR CORP. / BMO / Liz and Matt Connelly / Fifth Third Bank / Anne L. Kaplan / Christine and Glenn Kelly / Merrillyn J. Kosier and James F. Kinoshita / Stephanie and D’Andrae Larry / Cathy and Bill Osborn / PNC / Cari and Michael J. Sacks / David Snyder and Peggy Salamon / William Harris Investors, Inc. / Helen Zell, in honor of Joan W. Harris 

Ally and Additional Donor Support

Anonymous / Kathryn Kovitz Arnold and Taft Law / Linda and John Baker / John and Caroline Ballantine, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Gail Eisenhart Belytschko, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Luann and David Blowers Charitable Trust Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bobins, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation / Patricia Carman and Jeffrey Singer, in honor of Abby O’Neil / Joyce Chelberg / Mitchell Cobey and Janet Reali / Kori Coleman / Lisa Dietrich and William Lape / Judy and Jamie Dimon, in honor of Nancy Crown and Damian Woetzel / The Dimun Family / Lynn Donaldson and Cameron S. Avery / Eileen Dordek / Janet and Craig Duchossois / Kimberly Dulac and Natalie Rosenstein / Donald and Anne Edwards / Colleen Flanigan / Patti Eylar and Charles Gardner, in honor of Lori Dimun / Dale Ginsburg / Mary and Lionel Go / Stanford and Ann Dudley Goldblatt / Helyn D. Goldenberg and Michael N. Alper, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Jeannette and Jerry Goldstone / Samuel N. Gordon / Joan M. Hall / Ambassador (Ret.) Fay Hartog-Levin / Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation / Caroline and Charlie Huebner / Rebecca and Patrick Kempton / Franco La Marca / Laura Levy / Kathy and Monte Lewis, in honor of Cate Mascari and Emma Lawrence / Jill and Peter Litton / Gabrielle and Knox Long / Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Renee Macaluso, in honor of Emily Macaluso / Michael McStraw and Andy Flaherty / Bill Melamed and Jamey Lundblad Charitable Fund, in honor of Ted Grady and Ross Slotten / Nancy Meyer and Marc Weiss, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Robert Michael and Kennette Benedict / Sarah Solotaroff Mirkin / Joan and Charles Moore, in honor of Caryn and King Harris and Nancy and Scott Santi / Tiffany Nwosu / Audrey Paton / Jeri Presser and Charlie Seitz / D. Elizabeth Price / Carol Prins and John Hart, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Pritzker Traubert Foundation / Gail Purkey and Dave Konkol / Ravinia Festival Steans Institute / Maria Razumich-Zec, The Peninsula Chicago / Michael and Terri Reyes / Rhona Hoffman Gallery, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Kari Riordan / Shelley Rosenstein / Paul and Bettylu Saltzman / Michelle Seeley / Brenda Shapiro / Tom Shapiro and Madeleine Grynsztejn, in honor of Claire O'Grady / Patrick Sheahan, in honor of Joan W. Harris / Jai Shekhawat / Nicholas W. Skezas, in honor of Ted Grady and Ross Slotten / Michael Smith and Taz George / Michael and Salme Harju Steinberg / Robin Loewenberg Tebbe and Mark Tebbe / Dana Shepard Treister and Michael Roy Treister / The Catherine M. and Frederick H. Waddell Family Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation / Genevieve and Andrew Weeks / Susan and Bob Wislow / WTTW | WFMT 

SPECIAL THANKS

BBJ La Tavola / Louise Frank / Veronica Hastings, J&L Catering Sommelier / HMR Designs / HMS Media / Hubbard Street Dance Chicago / IATSE Local 2 / J&L Catering / The Juilliard School / Kathryn Kozlark / Andrea Liss, Hannah Handmade / Merit School of Music / The Peninsula Chicago / PJH & Associates, Inc. / Steinway & Sons / Tablescapes Party Rental / Theatrical Lighting Connection / Whitney M. Young Magnet High School

*Gala Supporter List as of April 30, 2026 

Due to a scheduling conflict, Phillipa Soo will be unable to perform as previously announced. Current artist listing as of March 10, 2026. All artists and programs are subject to change.