"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
This week: Which new celeb fundraiser is one you shouldn't miss?
Move over Mozart and tell Tchaikovsky the big news. The “Queen of Disco” will take the stage with The Phoenix Symphony for a new fundraising party and it’s going to be “Hot Stuff!”
That’s because this unprecedented concert and dinner is composed of Donna Summer’s electrifying hits, The Phoenix Symphony’s classical sounds and an event committee of power players. So mark your calendars for Oct. 16. I predict this will be a hit!
Creating an inaugural event during an unpredictable economy is challenging, especially in a city like Phoenix, which has several established major fundraisers on the social calendar. But a group of symphony supporters were determined to strategize a new fundraiser for the Symphony.
“Under the baton” of The Phoenix Symphony Association’s Board Chair C.A. Howlett, the organization shifted its annual gala from a New Year's Eve concert and ballroom dinner to an October event at Symphony Hall.
The co-chairs for the event are Nan and C.A. Howlett, senior vice president of public affairs at US Airways, Christine Gustafson, senior vice president of UBS Financial Services in Arizona and David Gustafson.
“THE Concert” at Symphony Hall on Oct. 16 begins at 6:30 p.m. and will open with Donna Summer and The Phoenix Symphony, under the direction of Virginia G. Piper Musical Director, Michael Christie.
Following the classical disco concert, the Phoenix Youth Symphony will musically escort guests from Symphony Hall to the Phoenix Convention Center for “THE Encore” of the evening filled with dinner and dancing.
As one of the Valley’s premier social gatherings, the Symphony’s Gala remains the only such event to feature live music played by a full symphony orchestra each year.
With Donna Summer (the only artist to have three consecutive #1 platinum double albums) as the headliner, the evening should be nostalgically classic.
Donna’s mega hits include “Last Dance,” “She Works Hard for the Money,” “McArthur Park,” “Love to Love you Baby,” “Bad Girls,” and of course, “Hot Stuff.”
The proceeds from this inaugural gala will support The Phoenix Symphony’s education, outreach and artistic activities, including concerts for school children, family programs and other presentations throughout the state of Arizona serving more than 300,000 adults, children and families each year.
Tickets for “THE Concert” and “THE Encore” start at $500 each. There are a limited number of tickets for “THE Concert” only, which start at $250.
Stay tuned for my updates on this much talked about event.
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
