Chicago Sinfonietta to honor Maria E. Wynne, Former CEO of Leadership Greater Chicago at annual gala, Soundscape

Maria E. Wynne

Chicago, IL – Each year, at one of Chicago’s social events of the season, Chicago Sinfonietta (CS) honors an individual who has made an impact on the community in a manner in keeping with the organization’s mission. For over three decades, the CS has championed and inspired others to invest in diversity and inclusivity in the genre of classical music to promote fairness and equity and strengthen community ties. Acclaimed for its leadership in innovation in the field, Chicago Sinfonietta leads by example not only from the concert stage, but through community, career development, and education programs. This October 28, 2023, the 36-year-old organization is proud to honor Maria E. Wynne, Immediate Past President of Leadership Greater Chicago and a true effector of change, with its Legacy Award at Soundscape: Chicago Sinfonietta's Annual Gala. Past honorees include Maurice Smith: President and CEO, Health Care Service Corporation, former CS Board Chair; Dr. Helene Gayle: President, Spelman College, Immediate past President of the Chicago Community Trust; and Scott Hoesman: President, InQuest Consulting, Immediate past CS Board Chair.

“Maria Wynne is a true beacon of inspiration within our community," expressed Chicago Sinfonietta President and CEO Blake-Anthony Johnson, Leadership Greater Chicago’s 2022 Chicago Community Trust Daniel Burnham Fellow. “Her exceptional vision, deep understanding, and unwavering support for all the diverse business sectors and the individuals who work within them that collectively shape Chicago as a global city are nothing short of remarkable.

Johnson continued, “A great deal of my civic work is a direct effect of Maria Wynne’s tireless commitment to befriend, nurture, & support new CEOs moving to this great city. Chicago is a first-class city because we, like no other, take care of our own, and commit to addressing challenges that we collectively could never achieve alone. Maria Wynne has been a fearless leader driving real accountability & change during her amazing tenure at Leadership Greater Chicago. Part of why our vibrant city sparkles is because of civically minded business leaders like Maria Wynne who believe championing equity, inclusion, & belonging builds community worth fighting for. We extend our heartfelt appreciation for her myriad accomplishments. We warmly invite you to join us for this exceptional evening."

Chicago Sinfonietta
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park
200 North Columbus, Chicago
6:00 PM – Midnight
Black Tie
For details on tickets, click here.

An exciting, one-of-a-kind, unforgettable evening, Soundscape interweaves music, art, and gastronomy in a celebration of the Sinfonietta’s nationally renowned tenure of groundbreaking creativity, innovation and building community through the art of music. This season’s grand annual event supports the organization’s artistic and educational initiatives.

Guests attending Soundscape will enjoy an engaging evening that begins with a visually stunning cocktail reception with interactive installations and the opportunity to mingle with fellow art and music enthusiasts, musicians including Grammy award-winning artist, producer, composer, and CS Artist in Residence Peter CottonTale, and influential figures from the Chicago community. A sumptuous dinner follows, with a dinner program emceed by the renowned Second City offering captivating performances, a live auction, and a spectacular orchestral showcased by Music Director Mei-Ann Chen and Chicago Sinfonietta. Post dinner, the festivities and socializing continue with an electrifying afterparty in the Fairmont Chicago, Millenium Park International Ballroom, offering an immersive blend of music and art transformed by the pulsating beats of various music genres curated by renowned DJ Mike P., with a dance floor, state-of-the-art lighting, and intricate laser beam designs.

ABOUT MARIA E. WYNNE
Maria E. Wynne is a board director, corporate executive and civic leader known for creating opportunities to “do good and do well” across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She has been a life-long enthusiast and champion of the arts having been raised in a household that instilled an appreciation of classical music, ballet, and opera during her early years as a child in Bogotá, Colombia. In recognition of her dedicated service to the arts, she was recently recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as Notable non-profit board leader for her service as President of the Goodman Theatre with special recognition of her leadership during the challenging pandemic period.

Ms. Wynne has steered turnarounds, restructures, and business innovation as a top P&L executive for technology giants Microsoft and Xerox, as CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and as CEO of Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC). She is currently an Independent Director for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago and serves on the Operations and Technology and Human Resources and Compensation committees.

Ms. Wynne is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Economic Club of Chicago, The Chicago Network, and The Chicago Club. She served as Board President for the Goodman Theatre until September of 2023 and is the Board Treasurer for P33, missioned to build Chicago as an inclusive Tier 1 “Tech City” in the United States. She serves as a Trustee of North Central College, a board member for The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, as an Advisory Board member of Chicago Innovation, and co-chairs the Advisory Council for the Civic Consulting Alliance.

Her many honors and recognitions include, Business Leader of Color, Chicago United, 2023 cohort; Maestro of Entrepreneurship Award, Latino Leaders Magazine 2022; and Notable Women Executive, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2019.

Ms. Wynne earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at North Central College and a Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University. She continued her executive education at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, the Harvard Business School, and the Center for Creative Leadership. She has expanded her global knowledge via personal travel through Europe, the Middle East and Latin America and civic and consular missions to Turkey and Israel. 

ABOUT CHICAGO SINFONIETTA
A tenured orchestra and acclaimed cultural leader that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating community through curated symphonic experiences, Chicago Sinfonietta is a source of community through music, ensuring and inspiring a continued investment in diversity and inclusivity in the genre of classical music to promote fairness and equity. Recognized as groundbreaking, dynamic and daring, with core values built around being culturally responsive and advocates of inclusivity in all aspects of the 36-year-old organization’s work, Chicago Sinfonietta’s unrelenting commitment to being at the forefront of innovation drives its high standard of symphonic experiences. CS takes pride in leading by example with immersive audience engagement activities, impactful career development, education, and extensive community outreach programs.  www.chicagosinfonietta.org

For questions regarding sponsorships, please visit the Soundscape webpage here, or contact Julie Rosenberg, Director of Development, Individual Giving & Special Events via email or by telephone at (312) 236-3681 ext. 6739.

Public Relations Contact: Laura Grant
917.359.7319 or
Lgrant@chicagosinfonietta.org 
Laura@grant-communications.com