Save the Date!
Gala 2025
Honoring Emanuel Ax and Richard L. Thomas
Friday, April 25, 2025 · Four Seasons Chicago
Prepare for unforgettable evening benefiting equal access and excellence in music education at Merit’s Gala 2025. Join us as we gather together as a Merit community, experience amazing student performances, and honor Emanuel Ax and Richard L. Thomas.
Sponsors at the Virtuoso level or above are cordially invited to a special meet and greet reception and photo opportunity with Mr. Ax.
Honoring
Emanuel Ax
Alice S. Pfaelzer Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts
and
Richard L. Thomas
The Merit School of Music Lifetime of Service Award
Honoring
Ellard (Butch) L. Pfaelzer, Jr. & Thomas (Tom) M. Leopold
Alice S. Pfaelzer Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts
We are thrilled to honor Ellard (Butch) L. Pfaelzer and Thomas (Tom) Leopold with the 2024 Alice S. Pfaelzer Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts. This esteemed award, named after Butch’s late wife and co-founder of Merit School of Music, Alice S. Pfaelzer, recognizes their outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to the arts. This dynamic duo is often together on the golf course, in the board room, and everywhere in between!
Butch is tremendously proud to have been a part of the birth of Merit in 1979. A leader in the meat industry, Butch spent many years with the Bruss Company, eventually becoming Chairman and CEO, and served as Chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. He first joined Merit’s Board
in 2005 and now serves as a Life Trustee. In addition to his dedication to Merit, Butch’s philanthropy has impacted many through his support of charitable organizations such as the Jewish Vocational Service, Highland Park Hospital, and the Executive Service Corps of Chicago. Butch is a proud graduate of Amherst College and veteran of the U.S. Army’s Quartermaster Corps.
Tom learned about Merit from his friend, Butch, and in 2012 he joined the Board of Trustees. Born and raised in Highland Park, IL, Tom served in the United States Army stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, and graduated from the University of Michigan. He then built an impressive career working at the former Continental Bank in Chicago which later became Bank of America. Tom calls upon his skills of persuasion that he honed so well in his career to raise generous funding for Merit every year. At one point, he volunteered so extensively at Merit that he even had his own cubicle in the administrative offices!
We are grateful to Butch and Tom for their many years of support and dedication to Merit School of Music and were thrilled to recognize them at Gala 2024.
Honoring
Morgan Lewis
Corporate Leadership Award
Morgan Lewis is recognized for exceptional client service, legal innovation, and commitment to its communities. Its global depth reaches across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East with the collaboration of more than 2,200 lawyers and specialists who provide elite legal services across industry sectors for multinational corporations to startups around the world. Led by the values of service, innovation, and talent, the firm has been recognized by the Financial Times for innovations in justice and civil rights in 2023, Law360 and Bloomberg Law for inclusion and diversity efforts in 2022, among many other accolades across the industry.
An extension of this commitment to the community and inclusion is fostering strong partnerships with non-profits, including the Merit School of Music where several Morgan Lewis attorneys are active and steadfast supporters. Partners Tom Linguanti and Julie Stapel currently serve on Merit’s Board of Trustees, associate Tom Severson is a member of the Merit Associate Board, and Merit Life Trustee Nina Stillman is a founding partner (retired) of the firm’s Chicago office. Each has made significant impacts on the culture, history, and success of Merit through their dedicated service to the students and community. We are so truly grateful for their commitment and leadership within the organization.
Merit also has ample first-hand experience in the strength of the partnerships Morgan Lewis seeks to foster with its clients. Offering countless hours of pro bono consultations, the firm has guided Merit through many milestones in its development including helping to review and establish Board By-Laws, governing documents, and expansion to new sites. Their support and expertise ensure that Merit continues to operate at the highest levels so that we may provide excellent music education to so many deserving Chicago youth.
Gala Chairs
Laura Thomas Bergman
Dave Thomas and Vesna Radisic
Richard Thomas, Jr. and Aurea Thomas
Honorary Gala Chairs
Judy and Verne Istock
Ellen and Paul Gignilliat
Sponsorships & Levels of Support
2025 Circle of Merit Music Champions (in formation)
Leadership Circle
Judy and Verne Istock
Maestro
Anonymous
Virtuoso
Lori Julian for the Julian Family Foundation
Concertmaster
Marisela and JK Lawson
Jennifer Vianello and David Showalter
Vivace
Duffie A. Adelson
Presto
William and Anne Goldstein
Doris Roskin
Levels of Support
Merit School of Music deeply appreciates the individuals and organizations who celebrate the accomplishments of our honorees, Ellard (Butch) L. Pfaelzer, Jr. and Thomas (Tom) M. Leopold—music lovers, advocates for youth, and supporters of Merit since it was founded in 1979.
In addition to the opportunities listed below, benefactors of $5,000+ will receive special acknowledgment of their support in the Gala invitation, on the Gala webpage, and in Merit’s annual report.
Presenting Sponsor | $100,000
- A premier table in the ballroom for 10 guests at the Gala
- Meet and greet reception and photo opportunity with Mr. Ax
- Topmost premier recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Leadership Circle | $50,000
- A premier table in the ballroom for 10 guests at the Gala
- Meet and greet reception and photo opportunity with Mr. Ax
- Premier recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Maestro | $40,000
- A priority table in the ballroom for 10 guests at the Gala
- Meet and greet reception and photo opportunity with Mr. Ax
- Priority recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Virtuoso | $25,000
- A prime table in the ballroom for 10 guests at the Gala
- Meet and greet reception and photo opportunity with Mr. Ax
- Prime recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Concertmaster | $10,000
- A preferred table in the ballroom for 10 guests at the Gala
- Preferred recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Vivace | $7,500
- A reserved table in the ballroom for 10 guests at the Gala
- Recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Guests at Gala 2024 heard directly from several students, who shared their experience at Merit School of Music and the sense of belonging they feel as part of this community.
