Kelli Gardner Emery
Love Match

No one would call Kelli Gardner Emery the shy and retiring type. In fact, she describes herself as “evangelical” when it comes to things she cares about, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Kelli credits her Greek father with inspiring her family’s love of classical music. “That was all we played in my home growing up,” she notes. She studied piano from the age of four – including two years with Soulima Stravinsky (Igor’s son) as a non-music major at the University of Illinois. “My first experience at Orchestra Hall was as an accompanist to my high school Glee Club which had a performance there. It was really thrilling to play the piano on the stage of Orchestra Hall at age 16.” Kelli viewed music as a passion, not a profession. Her career path was in education, working as a national representative with the American Federation of Teachers for 30 years. The job required a great deal of travel so Kelli attended CSO concerts as a single ticket buyer until a local assignment in the mid-1980s allowed her to become a subscriber.

She met her husband Peter at a mixed doubles tennis party on April 13, 1991 – right before tax day. “It was totally irresponsible that we were both out that night because neither one of us had finished preparing our taxes! I guess it was fate. Our first date was at the Grant Park fireworks concert; our second date was at Ravinia; and he proposed to me after a CSO concert. I am so blessed and fortunate to have a husband who shares my love of music.”

Following her retirement in 2001, Kelli searched for additional ways to support the causes she champions. “My mother raised me to believe that it’s my responsibility to give back to the organizations for which I have a passion. Making a planned gift is the natural extension of that giving. I always thought of estate plans as something people do when they get ‘old.’ I didn’t even know about the Theodore Thomas Society when I made my bequest to the CSO and I had no idea how much they valued and appreciated its planned givers. But now that I’ve made those arrangements in my 50s, I feel good about contributing in this way.”

“I tell people that if they care so much about the CSO they should leave money to support it. I’ve encouraged people to become subscribers and contributors, and now I’d like to bring more people into the Theodore Thomas Society.” That includes her husband. “Peter and I have separate estate plans, but he is so impressed with the CSO and the Theodore Thomas Society and how it shows its appreciation that he is considering revising his plans to include the Orchestra.”

Kelli’s years of travel have given her a real appreciation for the Orchestra’s illustrious reputation throughout the world. “It’s great to be overseas at a music venue and have people say, ‘Oh, you’re from Chicago – you have such a wonderful orchestra!’ The CSO helps to distinguish our city and make it world class. I get great satisfaction from knowing that I’m a part of building that image. I also love knowing that I’m helping to ensure that the CSO will continue to operate at the highest possible level in the years to come.”

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