Meet Cathy White O’Rourke, 2019 Gala Honoree

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On Monday, June 3, Kaufman Music Center is proud to celebrate Cathy White O'Rourke, President of the Board of Trustees at our 2019 Gala. We are also thrilled to have the opportunity to honor The Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund.    

With only four weeks left before the Gala, we are delighted to tell you more about Cathy and the impact she has made at the Center!

Cathy White O’Rourke has had a lifelong love of music. A concert pianist and graduate of both Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music and Wellesley College, she dreamed of leading a music organization as a young woman. Cathy’s life took another turn, as she earned an MBA, leading to a career on Wall Street – but she never stopped playing the piano and attending concerts.

She fell in love with Kaufman Music Center’s mission of combining music education and performance. Reflecting on her first visit, she says, “I was totally taken in by the sounds of music everywhere in the hallways.”

Cathy joined the Board of Trustees in 2002 and was appointed President in 2015 – fulfilling her lifelong dream! She has played a pivotal role in the Center’s development, and all of our programs have benefitted greatly from her leadership.

Cathy is an active chamber musician and member of Kaufman Music Center's Chamber Music Associates program. Through this program, more than 10 years ago, she met Andrew Yee, a former Juilliard student and current member of the Attacca Quartet. As a Juilliard student, Andrew participated in Cathy’s chamber groups. In the years since, Cathy has become acquainted with the other members of the Attacca Quartet and has loved watching their careers flourish. She is excited that the relationship will come full circle at the Gala, when they perform alongside Caroline Shaw and the Special Music School High School Boys Choir!

We hope you will join us on June 3rd to experience this once-in-a-lifetime performance, celebrate Cathy and The Morris and Alma Schapiro Fund, and raise critical funds that will help our educational programs reach more than 4,000 young people this year.

Donors who contribute or purchase tickets before May 15 will have their names listed in the Gala journal.

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