Dale and Noriko Todaro Create a Lasting Legacy for Orchestra Lumos with Groundbreaking $5 Million Planned Giving Gift

STAMFORD, CT (November 3, 2026)— Orchestra Lumos has announced the largest single gift in the Orchestra's history: a transformative $5 million dollar planned giving commitment from longtime Connecticut residents and devoted supporters of the Orchestra, Dale and Noriko Todaro, that will support the Orchestra today while creating a lasting legacy for generations to come.

The Todaros have already given $1 million of the total pledged amount to the organization’s endowment, income from which will support Orchestra Lumos’s current operations and artistic, educational and community initiatives. The remainder will come from their estate. In recognition of their extraordinary commitment and inspirational generosity, Orchestra Lumos has renamed its Lumos Circle as the Todaro Legacy Society, a group of individuals who have included Orchestra Lumos in their charitable estate plans, ensuring that the Orchestra's music and impact continue to enrich the community for years to come. 

Given the advancement of the gift, the Todaros will have the unique opportunity to see the impact of their commitment unfold in real time. As an eight-year Orchestra Lumos board member and the current Orchestra Lumos Treasurer, Dale is closely involved in Lumos’s work and its future and he will experience and influence firsthand the continued growth and impact of the legacy he is helping to create.

The Todaros were honored on stage at the Orchestra’s opening weekend concerts with a Proclamation from Mayor Caroline Simmons naming October 24th Dale and Noriko Todaro Day in Stamford, Connecticut. Orchestra Lumos’s Susanah and Naeem Fayyaz President & CEO Walker Beard invited Dale Todaro to share remarks about the joy Orchestra Lumos has brought his family. 

“Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and Orchestra Lumos has become a true home for my family and I. Its performances bring us joy and inspiration, reminding us of music’s unique power to bring people together,” said Dale Todaro, Treasurer of the Board of Directors for Orchestra Lumos. “Under Michael Stern’s extraordinary leadership, the orchestra continues to enrich our community by bringing exceptional artists to the stage and introducing young people to music through its education programs. Supporting Orchestra Lumos is deeply meaningful to Noriko and I, and we hope this gift will help ensure that future generations can experience the same connection, inspiration and joy that music has brought to our lives.”

The historic gift marks a significant milestone for Orchestra Lumos and reinforces the Orchestra’s role as an important cultural institution in Stamford and the surrounding community. 

“This extraordinary gift represents an incredible vote of confidence in Orchestra Lumos and the work we are doing to serve our community. We are deeply grateful for Dale and Noriko’s amazing generosity, which will help strengthen the foundation we have built and serve as inspiration for others to support the Orchestra’s continued growth," said Walker Beard, Susanah, and Naeem Fayyaz, President and CEO of Orchestra Lumos. “From presenting exceptional performances to expanding our educational programs, we are committed to making the arts accessible and making meaningful connections among people throughout our region. This gift provides an important opportunity to build on that mission and extend Orchestra Lumos’s reach and impact in the years ahead.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Dale and Noriko for their gift and the deep commitment to Orchestra Lumos that it represents. A gift of this magnitude is about more than securing the Orchestra’s future. It reflects a belief in the power of music to bring people together, inspire audiences and create meaningful connections across generations,” said Thomas Herbig, Chair of the Board of Directors for Orchestra Lumos. “This generosity will help us continue bringing exceptional music to our community and introducing more young people to the arts. We sincerely hope this remarkable act inspires others to follow his example and consider how they, too, can leave a lasting legacy in support of Orchestra Lumos.”

About Orchestra Lumos

Based in Stamford, Connecticut, Orchestra Lumos is the preeminent orchestra serving Fairfield County and representing the region beyond its borders. Led by Music Director Michael Stern, the Orchestra presents exceptional musical experiences, from awe-inspiring concerts with worldrenowned soloists to family-friendly programs that captivate all ages. The Orchestra performs four main-stage subscription concerts annually at its home base, the historic Palace Theatre; a family movie night with live orchestral accompaniment; and dozens of intimate performances in smaller spaces and hands-on education programs in venues from Rye, New York to Bridgeport, Connecticut, including local libraries, schools, museums, breweries, places of worship, and community centers. Visit www.orchestralumos.org to learn more, or follow on social media: @orchestralumos

Contacts:

Jessica Apicella, Associate Vice President Buzz Creators, Inc. Jessica@buzz-creators.com

Julia Kirchhausen, (917) 453-8386, Communications@orchestralumos.org

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