The Event: The  Black and White Ball

The Cause: San Francisco Symphony’s nationally acclaimed Adventures in Music program.

The Credentials: On May 22^nd, San Francisco’s Civic Center held the Annual Black and White Ball, raising money for the Adventures in Music program. Started by the San Francisco Symphony, the program benefits local elementary schools of the San Francisco Unified School District by providing children with music education in grades first through fifth. With performers like k.d. lang, Tony Bennett, Kool & the Gang and others, attendees in their black and white bests dined, drank and danced at the Davies Symphony Hall and War Memorial complex.

A tradition in San Francisco since 1956, the event was practically sold out by early April and is the city’s largest black-tie event. Some of the highlights included Bennett’s performance of the classic number, “San Francisco,” lang’s red pedicure which could be seen during her barefoot performance, and of course the climactic Midnight Surprise, this year being a Obscura Digital light sculpture projected onto City Hall. It seems benefactors of all economic statuses were more than willing to contribute to the musical education of San Francisco’s children.