Join Us at Gala 2026 on May 14
Honoring Caroline & Charlie Huebner and D-Composed
We are thrilled to invite you to an unforgettable evening benefiting equal access and excellence in music education on May 14, 2026.
Join us at the Four Seasons Chicago as we gather together as a Merit community, experience amazing student performances, and honor Caroline & Charlie Huebner and D-Composed for their contributions to the arts.
Sponsor the Gala & Buy Tickets ➔
Four Seasons Chicago • 120 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL 60611
Cocktail Attire • Valet Parking Available
Directions and Parking Information ➔
April 25, 2025 was an unforgettable evening benefiting equal access and excellence in music education at Merit’s Gala 2025. We gathered together as a Merit community, experienced amazing student performances, and honored Emanuel Ax and Richard L. Thomas.
Honoring
Caroline and Charlie Huebner
Alice S. Pfaelzer Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts
and
D-Composed
The Merit School of Music Citizen Artist Award
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
Thomas P. Danis, Jr.
Thomas Linguanti and Olivia Tyrrell
Sponsorships & Levels of Support
2025 Circle of Merit Music Champions
Presenting Sponsors
Rita and John Canning
Richard and Helen Thomas & Family
Leadership Circle
Ginny and Peter Foreman
Judy and Verne Istock
The Negaunee Foundation
Carol Prins and John Hart
Sandy and EarlM Rusnak
Zell Family Foundation
Maestro
Anonymous
Virtuoso
Julie and Dan Baumeister
Ryan and Amy DeVore & William Blair
Joan and Robert Feitler
Ellen and Paul Gignilliat
Janice L. Honigberg
Caroline and Charlie Huebner
Lori Julian for the Julian Family Foundation
Anne L. Kaplan
Morgan Lewis, Thomas Linguanti and Olivia Tyrrell, & Julie Stapel and David Kalat
Thomas and Janet Leopold
Beth and J. Barry Mitchell
Sylvia Neil and Daniel Fischel
Lorna and Ellard L. Pfaelzer, Jr.
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Dave Thomas and Vesna Radisic
Concertmaster
Abbott
Michael Andrews and Ryan Ruskin
Baker McKenzie
Jeffrey Breslow and Janyce Agruss
Huan J. Chang and Robert R. Stauffer & Jenner & Block
Carol and John Clavadetscher
Alexandra Demers and Jeff Hlavacek
Emerging Artists Chicago
Joe and Madeleine Glossberg
Matthew and Marynelly Grusecki & David A. Schulz
The Edward and Jerry James Families
JPMorganChase
Marisela and JK Lawson
Cynthia Mufarreh and Gaston Yordan
Joe and Hannah Musselman
The Neisser Family Foundation
NiSource
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Ann and Ray Rusnak
Liz Stiffel
Nina G. Stillman
Susan Pfaelzer Sultan and John Sultan
U.S. Bank
Jennifer Vianello and David Showalter
Vivace
Duffie A. Adelson
Dearborn Capital Partners
Heidi Lukas and Charlie Grode
Jennifer and Reg Montague
Nishad and Pinkey Parmar – LOUD Capital
David and Marilyn Vitale
Presto
Chang Family Foundation
Janet and Craig Duchossois
William and Anne Goldstein
Zubin and Marita Irani
Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett
Shelley Ochab and Chester Gougis
Doris Roskin
T. Rowe Price Private Asset Management
Sheri and Sherwin Zuckerman
Allegro
Greg and Marcy Carlin
Craft Mechanical
Britt M. Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Thomas
Adagio
Meredith Barber and Tom Fitzsimmons
Winnie and Bob Crawford
Mike and Bethany Evon
Hazel Fisher-Gable
Sara Gilley Krivoshia
Albert and Maria Goodman
Scott and Michele Irvin
Michael and Mary Phelan Lappe
Mr. and Mrs. William Lawlor
Robert and Sara Leopold
Robert M. and Diane vS. Levy Family Foundation<br /<Deborah Pugh
Margo and Mike Oberman
Douglas Severson and Miriam Geraghty
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Megan and Steve Shebik
Cheryl Sturm
Audrey M. Turner, Ed.D
Karen and Ed Weil
Levels of Support
Merit School of Music deeply appreciates the individuals and organizations who celebrate the accomplishments of our honorees, Emanuel Ax and Richard L. Thomas.
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
Presto | $5,000
- Six tickets to the Gala
- Recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Allegro | $3,000
- Four tickets to the Gala
- Recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Adagio | $1,500
- Two tickets to the Gala
- Recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Sponsorships & Levels of Support
2026 Circle of Merit Music Champions (in formation)
Presenting Sponsor
The Gies Foundation
Caroline and Charlie Huebner
Richard and Helen Thomas & Family
Leadership Circle
Ginny and Peter Foreman
The Julius and Cynthia Huebner Foundation
The Negaunee Foundation
Carol Prins and John H. Hart
Sandra K. Rusnak and Earl M Rusnak, Jr.
Maestro
Anonymous
Virtuoso
Anonymous
Julie and Dan Baumeister
Abby Z. Funk
Ellen and PaulM Gignilliat
The Harris Family Foundation
Janice L. Honigberg
Judy and Verne Istock
Lori Julian for the Julian Family Foundation
Janet and ThomasM Leopold
Thomas Linguanti and Olivia Tyrrell & Morgan Lewis
Ellard L. Pfaelzer, Jr.
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Dave Thomas and Vesna Radisic
Concertmaster
Mike Andrews and Ryan Ruskin
Jeffrey Breslow and Janyce Agruss
Greg and Mamie Case
Margarita Chavez-Tatro and Mark Tatro
Thomas P. Danis, Jr.
Dearborn Capital Partners
Alexandra Demers and Jeff Hlavacek
Ryan and Amy DeVore
Marcus and Andrea Gottlieb
Anne L. Kaplan
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John H. Krehbiel, Jr.
Matthew and Marynelly Grusecki & David A. Schulz
Marisela and JK Lawson
Jon Madorsky
Jennifer and Reginaldo Montague, PE
Sylvia Neil and Daniel Fischel
Joe and Hannah Musselman
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Parthenon Capital Foundation
Penelope R. Steiner
Liz Stiffel
Nina G. Stillman
Susie Pfaelzer Sultan and John Sultan
Jennifer Vianello and David Showalter
William Blair
Cynthia and Gaston Yordan
Sheri and SherwinM Zuckerman
Vivace
Duffie A. Adelson
Helen and Paul Chang Family Foundation
Dr. Derrick Gay
JimM and Kay Mabie Family
Presto
Anonymous
Laurie Bay
Huan J. Chang
Anne and Don Edwards
Joe and Madeleine Glossberg
Anne and Bill Goldstein
Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett
M. James Leider
Heidi Lukas and Charlie Grode
McCoy Family
Lynne and Paul McDonough
Mary O’Brien Pearlman and Greg Pearlman
Shelley Ochab and Chester Gougis
Doris Roskin
Scott and Nancy Santi
Robert Seidler
Sonia Singh
David Shapiro
Allegro
Elizabeth Nolan and Kevin Buzard
Erica Sander and Ronald Stevens
Adagio
Anonymous
Meredith Barber and Tom Fitzsimmons
Nick Bubnovich
Carol and John Clavadetscher
Lissette Cortes Lade
Denise and John Ginascol
Francia Harrington and Vern Broders
Angie and Tom Holleb
Cheri Hubbard
Elizabeth and Mark Hurley
Debra Kerr and Steve Thompson
Mr. and Mrs. Michael K. Lappe
Robert M. and Diane v.S. Levy Family Foundation
Margo and Mike Oberman
Rebecca Rugg
Megan and Steven Shebik
Kay and Craig Tuber
Dr. Jennifer Turner and Dr. Audrey Turner
Karen and Ed Weil
Levels of Support
Sponsor the Gala ➔
Presenting Sponsor | $100,000
- A premier table in the ballroom for 10 guests at the Gala
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Presto | $5,000
- Six tickets to the Gala
- Recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Allegro | $3,000
- Four tickets to the Gala
- Recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Adagio | $1,500
- Two tickets to the Gala
- Recognition of your support in the Gala event materials
Guests at Gala 2025 heard directly from several students who shared the incredible impact of their experiences at Merit School of Music.
