Honoring the legacy of Dorothy Buffum Chandler, the founder of The Music Center and a major pioneer of her time, The Music Center will award its Leadership Award to Walter F. Ulloa at The Music Center’s Winter Soirée (Soirée) on December 7, 2017. The award salutes Los Angeles leaders who embody the values of The Music Center, including excellence, inclusion, and innovation. California Secretary of State Alex Padilla will present the award to Ulloa, acknowledging Ulloa’s achievements, which include the creation of a prominent global media company and his extraordinary contributions to the community.
As chairman and CEO of Entravision Communications Corporation, Ulloa has built one of the world’s leading global media companies that use a combination of television, radio and digital media to reach and engage U.S. Latinos, as well as consumers in the U.S., Mexico, Latin America and Spain. Entravision’s digital operating group, Pulpo, is the #1-ranked digital advertising platform in Hispanic reach, and Pulpo’s comprehensive media offering, data and consumer insights lead the industry. Entravision’s digital group also includes Headway, a leading provider of mobile, programmatic, data and performance digital marketing solutions primarily in the U.S., Mexico and Latin America. A dedicated leader in the community, Ulloa has a strong commitment to educate, entertain and inform Latino audiences and to mobilize and motivate them to have an even stronger voice in their future. He is a member of The Music Center Board of Directors, as well as the boards of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Los Angeles Theatre Center and the U.S./Mexico Foundation.
Ulloa will be honored by The Music Center at its Soirée, which features the world premiere of an all-new George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® with Miami City Ballet. The engagement is a Music Center co-commission that will feature the visionary designs of Cuban-American designers Isabel and Ruben Toledo, who have created new sets and costumes for this production, along with a live orchestra. To make the production truly L.A.’s own, the performances will feature student dancers from both the Colburn School and the Gabriella Foundation’s everybody dance! the program, along with live choral music from the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. The Soirée takes place on opening night of December 7-10, 2017 Nutcracker engagement presented by Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center.
In making the announcement, Rachel Moore, president, and CEO of The Music Center acknowledged Ulloa exemplifies a pioneer in the business. “Walter Ulloa sets the bar for excellence, not only because of the forward-thinking approach and success of his business endeavors but also because of his commitment to providing high-quality entertainment and information that is relevant and accessible to Latino audiences and communities,” she said. “We look forward to bestowing our first Leadership Award to Walter and are honored that California Secretary of State Alex Padilla will join us in saluting Walter for his significant accomplishments and contributions,” she added.
Soirée guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a pre-performance toast, The Nutcracker performance, and an exclusive post-performance dinner. Funds raised from the event will help The Music Center continue to serve more than 120,000 students annually through the organization’s multi-faceted arts education programs. These programs include the annual Very Special Arts Festival, which celebrates the artistic achievements of K-12 students of all abilities; TheMusic Center on Tour, which brings the best of the performing arts directly to schools; arts integration partnerships with schools and Music Center teaching artists; student performances; and professional development programs for teachers, among other initiatives.
Soirée co-chairs include Lisa and Andrew Gilford, Catharine and Jeffrey Soros and Alyce and Warren Williamson. Isabel and Ruben Toledo are honorary co-chairs. Major sponsors include CC Capital, Entravision, the Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation, and Porsche.
Sponsor packages include all three elements of the evening, with some providing opportunities to enjoy Sweet Seats for the Saturday, December 9, 2017, matinee performance of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, which feature premier seating locations, a backstage photo opportunity with a dancer, a dancer-signed poster and a George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® goodie bag. More information about packages and Soirée tickets is available at (213) 972-4322 and at Soiree@MusicCenter.org. Single tickets to the performance alone are available at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012; by calling (213) 972-0711; and online at musiccenter.org/nutcracker.
