The Los Angeles Master Chorale Gala Concert honoring composer Germaine Franco held at Disney Concert Hall last month, raised more than $487,000.

Franco is the Chorale’s first female Artistic Honoree and is one of the most unique award-winning composers working in Hollywood today. She is the first Latina, and only the sixth woman, to be an Oscar nominee and a Grammy winner.

This year’s Philanthropic Honoree was the L.A. Arts Recovery Fund. A collaboration of local and national philanthropy, and the largest-ever pooled private investment for arts in Los Angeles County, the Fund distributed $36.1 million to 90 art organizations for post-pandemic rebuilding.

The grant recipients span visual arts, theater, music, dance, literary arts, and arts education The Chorale received a two-year grant of $1.5 million, a milestone in its 58-year history.

The evening, attended by more than 300 Chorale devotees, highlighted Franco’s distinctive musical influences with new arrangements heard for the first time. Franco joined the Chorale on stage to perform on percussion, with a 17-member orchestra conducted by Grant Gershon and Jenny Wong. Special guest soloists included vocalist Toni Scruggs and young talent Danny Duran.

Melissa Romain and Annette Ermshar co-chaired the Gala committee, which included Chip W. Baik, Kiki Ramos Gindler, Martha Groves, Jenny S. Kim, Ron Myrick, Sonia Randazzo, Lisa Richardson, Meredith Palmer Torres, and Tracy Van Fleet. Distinguished Honorary Gala Hosts include Michael Abels, Doug Aitken, Nilo Alcala, Jeff and Joan Beal, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Alan Chapman, Billy Childs, Saunder Choi, Danny Elfman, Reena Esmail, Frank Gehry, Philip Glass, Osvaldo Golijov, Shawn Kirchner, Morten Lauridsen, Heitor Pereira, John Powell, James Muhammad, Anne Akiko Meyers, Lalo Schifrin, Peter Sellars, Derrick Skye, Georgia Stitt and Jason Robert Brown, Pinar Toprak, Dale Trumbore, Rufus Wainwright, Eric Whitacre and Laurence Servaes and Elyse and Christopher Willis.

Showcase opener

The Premiere Night Gala, marking the opening of the 58th Pasadena Showcase House of the Arts, celebrated the 75th anniversary of The Pasadena Junior Philharmonic Committee, the support group for the L.A. Philharmonic that established the iconic fundraiser, said to be one of the longest running home tours in country.

The Showcase has come a long way since the first Showcase home in 1966. I still remember that first Premiere Night. My friend Renee Hanson chaired the decorations committee with a budget of $100.

Pasadena florist Jacob Maarse stepped in to provide pots of fresh white daisies. Since then, the Showcase has generated more than $25 million for music and arts education nonprofits.

This year’s Premiere bash, staged on the grounds of the landmark home on Lombardy Road in Pasadena, drew more than 300 guests and raised $140,000 to fund music education scholarships. The Showcase continues through May 21.

Coming up

SATURDAY >> Villa Esperanza Services presents “Villa Land” honoring Yun and Rich Byrd as the 24th Annual Guardian Angel Award recipients. The Langham Huntington Hotel, Pasadena. 6 p.m. Gala.VillaES.org.

MAY 19 >> Camerata Pacifica presents “Gala” honoring Carola Henry. The Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles.

MAY 20 >> Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra presents “Shankar plays Shankar,” featuring Anoushka Shankar. Alex Theatre, Glendale. 8 p.m. laco.org.

MAY 21 >> The Melodia Mariposa Ensemble performs with pianist/organist Mark Robson. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Altadena. 4 p.m. melodiamariposa.org.

May 21 >> The Los Angeles Chapter of ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) presents its Spring Benefit. A private home in Beverly Hills. losangeles@arcsfoundation.org.

JUNE 3 >> L.A. City Council member, the late Tom LaBonge aka “Mr. Los Angeles,” will posthumously receive the Betty White Conservation Hero Award at the annual Beastly Ball to benefit the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. The L.A. Zoo.lazoo.org.

JUNE 17 >> Pasadena POPS presents The Fray. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

JUNE 24 >> Pasadena POPS presents Divas through the Ages. L.A. County Arboretum. pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

JUNE 29 >> Center Theatre Group opens the Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s musical, “Into the Woods.” Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center. Performances continue through July 30. centertheatregroup.org.

JULY 15 >> Pasadena POPS presents Kings of Soul. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. pasadenasymphony-pops.org.

JULY 29 >> Pasadena POPS presents Michael Feinstein Sings Broadway. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. Pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

AUGUST 11 >> Center Theatre Group presents the West Coast premiere of “Peter Pan Goes Wrong.” Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center. Performances continue through Sept. 10. Centertheatregroup.org .

AUGUST 12 >> Pasadena POPS presents Viva Las Vegas! L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. Pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

AUGUST 26 >> Pasadena POPS presents the Music of Queen. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

SEPT. 9 >> Pasadena POPS presents Hollywood Blockbusters. L.A. County Arboretum, Arcadia. Pasadenasymphony-pops.org .

Attending indoor arts and entertainment events during the COVID-19 pandemic carries risks. Please remember to adhere to the rules prescribed by the CDC and local health officials.

Patt Diroll writes a bi-weekly society column for the Pasadena Star-News. She can be reached at pattdiroll@gmail.com .