Dr. Greta Pope Wimp and Ms. Linda Boasmond Named Chairpersons for the 2016 Chicago Sinfonietta Ball

    CHICAGO, IL, April 01, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Chicago Sinfonietta has named its Chairpersons for this year's Chicago Sinfonietta Ball, which will be held Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park Hotel. Dr. Greta Pope Wimp, the well-known Chicago vocalist, entertainer and community leader, has been named Civic Chair and Ms. Linda Boasmond, President and Owner of Cedar Concepts Corporation, is the Corporate Chair. The Betty and Edward Gardner Family are the Honorary Chairs.

The theme for this year's event is "Maestro's Legacy...Today. Tomorrow. Forever." The Ball will celebrate the legacy of the Sinfonietta's late founder and true pioneer, Maestro Paul Freeman, who founded the Sinfonietta in 1987, retired in 2011, and sadly passed away last year after an extended illness.

"I am extremely proud to be serving as Civic Chair for this year's Chicago Sinfonietta Ball," said Dr. Pope Wimp. "Chicago Sinfonietta is one of the finest and most creative symphonic orchestras in the world, and it is unique in its commitment to the diversity of its talented musicians and repertoire. Maestro Freeman was a true visionary who changed the landscape of classical music in the United States and beyond. He offered opportunity for a diverse community of musicians and composers and the Sinfonietta's impact has been felt throughout the world."

Each year Chicago Sinfonietta hosts more than 550 guests from among Chicago's top corporations and private supporters to raise much needed critical support for the Sinfonietta's innovative concert season and expansive education outreach programs. Individual reservations for the Ball are $400 per person; sponsorship opportunities range from $1,250 to $75,000.

For more information about the Chicago Sinfonietta Ball and to make reservations or arrange sponsorship, please contact Courtney Perkins, Director of Development and Operations for Chicago Sinfonietta at (312) 284-1559 or by email at [email protected].

About Dr. Greta Pope Wimp
Dr. Greta Pope Wimp is an international entertainer who has delighted audiences throughout Europe, the Far East, South America and the Caribbean, as well as the United States and Canada. Her performance credentials include sharing the stage with such well known performers as Wynonna Judd, Dick Van Dyke, Stanley Clarke, Carol Channing, Ramsey Louis, Rich Little, Penn & Teller and many others.

Dr. Pope Wimp earned her Master of Music Degree in Music Performance, Production and Business from Miami University and completed 2 years post-Masters vocal study with Metropolitan Opera soprano Eileen Farrell at Indiana University. She earned her Ph.D. in Business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She is the author of the book Music, Money & You: Managing the Business and serves as a guest lecturer at various colleges and universities across the country. She is a motivational speaker and travels the country with her Music, Money & You Motivational Tour, presenting Master Classes to groups on the topics of "Breaking into the Music Industry" and "It's Your Life; Being All You Can Be!" She has been a featured speaker at the Annual Self Employment in the Arts Conference (SEA) and the Annual Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization Conference (CEO).

Dr. Pope Wimp is involved with performing arts organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for the Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Chicago local, where she is the Chairman of the Singers Committee. She is also a member of the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Artists Cabaret West and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals (CCP). She is actively involved in many local, national and international organizations including the Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois, The Links, Incorporated; Jack and Jill of America; WorldChicago; Advocate Health Care; Mitzi Friedheim Englewood Child and Family Center; Ronald McDonald House; and Apna Ghar. Shethe also is Governing Council Chair of Advocate Trinity Hospital. She is married to Chicago businessman Edward L. Wimp. Her website is www.gretapope.com.

About Linda Boasmond
Linda Boasmond is owner and president of Chicago-based Cedar Concepts Corporation. She is the first and only African-American women in the U.S. to own a chemical manufacturing plant. CCC processes raw materials for use in a wide variety of personal-care, household, industrial, and agricultural products marketed under many brand names familiar to both consumers and businesses. The company sells 50 to 70 million pounds of chemicals globally per year. Her customers include Proctor & Gamble, Colgate Palmolive, Citgo Petroleum and Boeing. Her company recently completed the process of constructing the first ground-up chemical manufacturing facility within the City of Chicago in over fifty years.

Ms. Boasmond has been named 2015 Woman of Excellence by the Chicago Defender, 2014 Manufacturer of the Year by the Alliance for Illinois Manufacturers, and spoke on the National Urban League's 2009 conference business panel. She has been the proud recipient of several honorable awards of mention, a sought after speaker and profiled in several publications. She is a member of the WBENC (WBDC Chapter), NMSDC (CMBDC Chapter) ASQ (Association Society for Quality), Alliance for Illinois Manufacturers (Board Member) and Illinois Manufacturers' Association (Board Member). She has been actively committed to community involvement and social responsibility through programs such as Girls 4 Science in which she is the Board Chair, Chicago Sinfonietta (past Board Member) and Museum of Science & Industry's Science Chicago.

About Chicago Sinfonietta
Entering its 29th season, Chicago Sinfonietta has pushed artistic and social boundaries to provide an alternative way of hearing, seeing and thinking about a symphony orchestra. Each concert experience blends inventive new works with classical masterworks, each from a diverse array of voices, to entertain, transform and inspire. Learn more atwww.chicagosinfonietta.org.

Chicago Sinfonietta is grateful to its season supporters including: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Nicor, Pritzker Foundation, Chicago Magazine, Southwest Airlines, the Hotel Arista, the Fairmont Hotel, WXRT 93.1, Chicago Reader, Naperville's SECA fund, Naperville Magazine, the Illinois Arts Council and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Chicago Sinfonietta is also grateful to its event sponsors Exelon, PWC, Aon, Hyatt, Macy's, Molex, ABC7, and Telemundo.

# # #