Post on 09-Sep-2018
Karen and John Shields of Michelinstarred Smyth + The Loyalist
to create Chicago Voices Gala dinner Saturday, February 4, 5:00pm at Lyric’s Civic Opera House
Chicago (01/18/17) – Lyric Opera of Chicago proudly announced thathusband and wife duo Chefs Karen and John Shields of Chicago basedMichelinstarred Smyth + The Loyalist will design a 3course gourmet dinnerexperience for guests attending the February 4 Chicago Voices Gala Concert.This exclusive dinner opportunity has a limited number of seats available anddinner packages, including Gala Concert tickets and other benefits areavailable now by calling Lyric’s Women’s Board at (312) 8275681 or emailingwboffice@lyricopera.org.
Chef John Shields spent two years serving as sous chef at the worldrenowned Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago before continuing his career with ChefGrant Achatz at Alinea as sous chef in 2005. During his two years there,Alinea grew from an exciting upstart to one of the best restaurants in theworld.
Karen Urie Shields worked as sous pastry chef for two years at TRU underJames Beard Awardwinning Pastry Chef, Gale Gand. Urie Shields gainedincredible experience working under Gand and soon moved to CharlieTrotter’s where she rose through the ranks to become head pastry chef of therenowned restaurant.
Chefs John and Karen decided to return to Chicago to open Smyth + TheLoyalist in August of 2016. Smyth received its first Michelin star just 3 monthsafter opening.
The Chicago Voices Gala Concert Evening begins with cocktails at 5:00 p.m.,
FROM:Lisa MiddletonDirector of Marketing
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Holly H. Gilsonhgilson@lyricopera.org3128275939
Magda Krancemkrance@lyricopera.org3128275924
Kamaria Morriskmorris@lyricopera.org3128275928
#ChicagoVoices
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followed by dinner service at 6:00 p.m., with dining options that include seatingin private mezzanine level boxes and in Lyric’s luxurious Graham Room. TheGala Concert celebration commences at 7:30 p.m., with an exclusive afterparty for all Gala guests directly following the main stage performance.
The Chicago Voices concert features performances from world renownedsoprano and Lyric’s creative consultant Renée Fleming, legendary folksinger/songwriter John Prine, “New Queen of Blues” artist ShemekiaCopeland, worldrenowned tenor Matthew Polenzani, alternative/indiehusband–andwife duo The Handsome Family, vocal superstar MichelleWilliams, Broadway’s Jessie Mueller with more artists to be announced soonis sure to be an unforgettable night, celebrating the city we love – Chicago.
About Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s mission is to express and promote the lifechanging, transformational, revelatory
power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and
the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.
Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and
thoughtprovoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesserknown masterpieces, and new
works; to creating an innovative and wideranging program of community engagement and educational
activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.
Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Sir Andrew Davis,
and Creative Consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera
Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of
excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.
To learn more about Lyric’s current season, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with
@LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. #Lyric1617 #LongLivePassion
The Chicago Voice Gala Benefit Concert and After Party is generously made possible by Lead Sponsor Liz Stiffel; Supporting Sponsor J.
Thomas Hurvis; Lead Corporate Sponsor Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Diamond Record Sponsors ITW, Brent and Katie Gledhill, Kohler Co., John
D. and Alexandra C. Nichols, The Crown Family, and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick G. Ryan; Platinum Record Sponsors Fifth Third Bank, Mr. and
Mrs. J. Christopher Reyes, Rita and Herbert Z Gold Charitable Trust; Gold Record Sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Michael P. Cole, Carl and
Marilynn Thoma, and Hal Coon; with additional support from the Lavin Family Foundation.
Chicago Voices is made possible by major support from J. Thomas Hurvis and Parent Power Chicago, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,
and the Ford Foundation. This project is partially supported by The Chicago Community Trust, an IncentOvate Grant from the City of
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, and the Eisen Family Foundation.
Lyric Unlimited was launched with major catalyst funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and receives major support from the Caerus
Foundation, Inc.
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