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The San Francisco Symphony hosted a swank and spirited launch party for the 2010 Black & White Ball at the Bentley Reserve on Monday evening, March 15. As Party Passes went on sale, Chairman Patricia Sprincin announced the full entertainment line-up for the Ball on Saturday, May 22, including headliners Tony Bennett and k.d. lang in concert; post-concert party headliners Kool & The Gang; two-time Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban ensemble Tiempo Libre; the illustrious Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra; hip hop/R&B songstress Faith Evans; all-star jam band Moonalice; retro-swingers Royal Crown Revue; nine-piece salsa band Candela; California surf band Papa Doo Run Run; Foreverland, a musical tribute to Michael Jackson; and all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella. Sprincin also introduced the Build Your Own Ball online voting poll, encouraging the public to vote on music, food and fashion elements at the Ball. Acclaimed event designer Robert Fountain is the producer for the 2010 Black & White Ball, a San Francisco tradition and legendary fundraiser benefitting the San Francisco Symphony’s acclaimed music education program for elementary schools, Adventures in Music.

SAN FRANCISCO (March 15, 2010) – Today the San Francisco Symphony announced the complete entertainment line-up for the 2010 Black & White Ball on Saturday, May 22. Transforming San Francisco’s War Memorial Performing Arts Center into one of the country’s most elegant party venues, the Black & White Ball features a special concert and party line-up of 10 bands on five stages, dancing, food, drinks and the rollicking midnight surprise – all for one ticket and only in San Francisco. The general admission “Party Pass” is now on sale for this legendary fundraiser benefitting San Francisco Symphony’s acclaimed music education program for elementary schools, Adventures in Music.

2010 Black & White Ball Entertainment Line-up

In addition to previously announced headliners Tony Bennett and k.d. lang, who will perform in a special concert at Davies Symphony Hall at 8 p.m., the entertainment line-up for the post-concert party, beginning at 9 p .m., includes: party headliners Kool & The Gang; two-time Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban ensemble Tiempo Libre; the illustrious Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra; hip hop/R&B songstress Faith Evans; all-star jam band Moonalice; retro-swingers Royal Crown Review; nine-piece salsa band Candela; California surf band Papa Doo Run Run; Foreverland, a musical tribute to Michael Jackson; and all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella.

Fans will find Kool & The Gang and the Build Your Own Ball DJ at the Van Ness Main Stage. Tiempo Libre and Candela will light up the Opera House Lobby. The big band sounds of the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and Royal Crown Review will emanate from the Big Band Big Top. Moonalice and Faith Evans will keep things jumping in the Veterans Building Lobby. Papa Doo Run Run, Foreverland: A Musical Tribute to Michael Jackson, and Zepparella will channel their idols from the Opera House Café.

Build Your Own Ball

Online voting polls are now open for the Black & White Ball’s Build Your Own Ball interactive community campaign. The public is encouraged to vote to decide which top Bay Area DJ -- DJ Sam Isaac, DJ Mei-Lwun or DJ Solomon -- plays a prime main stage set before party headliners Kool & The Gang take the stage. Voters will also have the opportunity to vote for the official “Black & White Bite” from a selection of delicacies created by famed caterer McCall Associates. Additionally, popular online vote will decide which of three Colleen Quen couture ball gowns Chairman Patricia Sprincin will wear at the 2010 Black & White Ball. Online voting for Build Your Own Ball begins today and closes on Thursday, April 22, when the winners will be announced. The public can vote online at www.sfsymphony.org/byoball. Voting is not restricted to Black & White Ball ticket holders.

“The San Francisco Symphony’s Black & White Ball is an unforgettable experience for music and fun lovers around the Bay Area and across the nation,” commented Sprincin. “It’s a glamorous night of fashion, music, food and fun for a great cause, benefitting the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music education program, which provides comprehensive music education to every single child in grades 1 through 5 of San Francisco’s public elementary schools. What a fun way for everyone to get involved in the excitement and the experience of the Black & White Ball.”

Robert Fountain

The San Francisco Symphony has tapped acclaimed event designer Robert Fountain as producer for the 2010 Black & White Ball. Robert Fountain has designed dozens of major events and remains the only event designer in San Francisco history to do all three opening night galas -- the San Francisco Symphony, Opera and Ballet -- in the same season. The fall of 2003 saw him design the opening night galas for both the San Francisco Symphony and Opera within days of each other. Robert’s inspired work is also seen across the country at events for both private individuals and corporate clients, and Robert can also frequently be seen on local and national TV shows as a design and lifestyle expert.

2010 Black & White Ball Experiences

The 2010 Black & White Ball offers a variety of ways to experience one of the Bay Area’s best-loved community events. The special Tony Bennett & k.d. lang Concert + Party Pass ($325) allows patrons to start off their Ball experience in grand style with two legendary performers on stage in Davies Symphony Hall. The Party Pass alone ($200) provides Ball entry at 9 p.m. and access to all five Performing Arts Center venues and outdoor stages for live dance music, food and drinks until 1 a.m.

Three additional VIP options are also available: beginning at 5 p.m., the Patrons’ Dinner ($1000 - $2500) take place in a magnificent tented pavilion. Also at 5 p.m., the SF Symphony League’s Supper Club ($375-$600) will offer up its own swank cocktail reception and dinner in the elegant Veterans Building Green Room. The high-voltage Bash Beyond the Ball, presented by Symphonix ($375-$600), the Symphony’s young professionals group, follows the Tony Bennett and k.d. lang concert in a transformed Veteran’s Building Green Room. All three VIP dinner packages include seating in Davies Symphony Hall for the Tony Bennett and k.d. lang concert performance as well as the Party Pass with access to live dance music, food and drinks until 1 a.m.

Patricia Sprincin, community charity advocate extraordinaire, leads a distinguished committee of Bay Area volunteers including Patrons Dinner Co-chairs Lydia Beebe and Patricia C. Dunn, Supper Club Co-chairs Tori Brant and Trish Otstott, and Bash Beyond the Ball Co-chairs Gwyneth Borden and Bob Perun.

The San Francisco Symphony's 2010 Black & White Ball is generously supported by the following sponsors: Presenting Sponsor AT&T; Patrons' Dinner Sponsor Bank of America; Harlequin Reception Sponsor BlackRock; Preferred Card: VISA; Media Partners San Francisco Chronicle | SFGate.com, CBS 5 KPIX-TV /cbs5.com, 96.5 KOIT, KBLX 102.9FM, San Francisco magazine, 7x7 magazine, and BART. Additional support provided by William Hill Estate® Winery and La Marca® Prosecco, GREY GOOSE® Vodka, FIJI Water, Studio Hinrichs, and The Westin St. Francis.

Tickets and Information

The general admission Party Pass ($200) is now on sale. Already on sale: Tony Bennett and k.d. lang Concert + Party Pass tickets are $325; Symphonix Bash Beyond the Ball tickets are $375-$600; Supper Club tickets are $375-$600; and Patrons’ Dinner tickets are $1,000-$2,500. All three dinners include preferred concert seating for the Tony Bennet and k.d. lang concert and the Party Pass. Tickets are available by phone; call (415) 864-6000 or visit www.sfsymphony.org/bwball. For dinner packages, call (415) 503-5500.

Voting for the San Francisco Symphony’s Build Your Own Ball elements begins today and ends on Thursday, April 22, when the winners will be announced. The public may cast their vote online at www.sfsymphony.org/byoball.

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Media contact:

Colleen Gallagher, Glodow Nead Communications, 415.394.6500 or colleen@glodownead.com

Oliver Theil, SFS Communications, 415.503.5426 or otheil@sfsymphony.org

BWB online press kit can be found at www.sfsymphony.org/pressbwball.