Black and White equals gold for music in schools

By Eman Isadiar

SAN FRANCISCO – The City’s long-awaited bi-annual black-tie social event known as the Black and White Ball will be held on Saturday, May 22. The War Memorial Performing Arts Center and surrounding area will be transformed into one giant party scene to raise funds for San Francisco Symphony’s citywide music education program in elementary schools known as “Adventures in Music.”

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang will kick off SF Symphony’s signature event “Black and White Ball” with a performance at Davies Symphony Hall on May 22 at 8 pm. Courtesy of San Francisco Symphony

The evening will begin with a special joint concert at Davies Symphony Hall by Tony Bennett and k.d. lang. The entertainment line-up for the post-concert party, beginning at 9 p .m., includes: party headliners Kool & The Gang; two-time Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban ensemble Tiempo Libre; hip hop/R&B songstress Faith Evans; the illustrious Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra; all-star jam band Moonalice; retro-swingers Royal Crown Revue; unstoppable rock ‘n’ roll party band Wonderbread 5; nine-piece salsa band Candela; California surf band Papa Doo Run Run; Foreverland, a 14-piece musical tribute to Michael Jackson; and all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella.

The dancing, food, drinks and the rollicking midnight surprise are all included with a single ticket purchase of $200 per guest. All of the above plus the preceding concert by Tony Bennett and k.d. lang will cost $325 per guest. For details and tickets visit sfsymphony.org/bwball or call 415-864-3000.