The People’s Music School (TPMS) turned up the volume at its eighth annual Big Night Gala, raising over $740,000 to provide free, high-quality music education to Chicago youth. The Feb. 21 event, emceed by CBS Morning News Anchor Audrina Sinclair, brought nearly 450 guests to The Geraghty for a celebration of the transformative power of music.
The People’s Music School, a Make It Better Foundation 2019 Philanthropy Award winner, is Chicago’s oldest and largest completely tuition-free music school, high-quality music education to over 800 students across 55 ZIP codes. With a focus on intensive instruction and performance, the school empowers young musicians to excel not only in music but also in personal and academic areas.
The gala’s exciting live auction, hosted by Auctioneer David Goodman of Auction Results, LLC, featured items and experiences including a private concert and dinner featuring Wilco’s Nels Cline and Glenn Kotche, and DePaul School of Music’s Bob Palmieri, VIP tickets and signed guitars from Fall Out Boy, and luxury getaways to Mykonos and Provence.
This year’s event, called Big Night: Crescendo!, also featured live performances by more than 50 students from each of TPMS’s four sites: Albany Park, Back of the Yards, Greater South Side, and Uptown.
Honoree Michael Buck, a TPMS Lifetime Trustee and devoted supporter since 2011, has played a vital role in expanding access to free music education. As the inaugural Chair of TPMS’s Program Committee, Buck has combined leadership with hands-on involvement — mentoring students and volunteering as a cello instructor in TPMS’s Albany Park program. Through the Buck Family Foundation, he has helped TPMS build curriculum infrastructure that advances high-quality music instruction in underserved communities.
A portfolio manager at Driehaus Capital Management, Buck has worked on the US Growth Equities Team since 2002, specializing in consumer and financial sectors. A graduate of Northwestern University with degrees in economics and cello performance, he is also the co-founder and President of Ovation Press, Ltd., a publisher of sheet music for string players.
The gala was co-chaired by TPMS Board Members Ellen Feldman and Cecilia Torres VanGetson and backed by a strong lineup of sponsors including Title Sponsor was the Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation. Presenting Sponsors included The Athena Fund, Driehaus Capital Management, Perry Family Charitable Foundation, and TD Securities. Artist Level Sponsors included Ariel Investments, Ayco Charitable Foundation, Michael Buck, Conagra Brands, Ellen & Matt Feldman, KRD, Northern Trust, Roth, Aaron VanGetson and Cecilia Torres VanGetson, and William Blair.
The organization thanks Director of Development Jennifer Riskind and Event Planner Crystal Phillips-Pierce of CP Event Design and Production for orchestrating a wonderful and successful event.
How To Help
The People’s Music School is Chicago’s oldest and largest completely tuition-free music school, serving more than 800 students across 55 ZIP codes. The organization’s mission is to deliver access to the benefits of high-quality, tuition-free music education. Through intensive instruction and performance, TPMS students achieve excellence in music that transfers to other areas in life. They grow musically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience, and purpose.
Join the movement and support access to life-changing music education can do so at peoplesmusicschool.org/donate.
