50th Candlelight Concert Shines Bright: Record-Breaking $19.2 Million Raised
COSTA MESA, CA | Segerstrom Center for Arts’ 50th Annual Candlelight Concert, the signature fundraiser for the organization, dazzled as a celebration of the arts, honoring all the former Candlelight Chairs of the past 50 years, and bringing together philanthropists, art lovers, and patrons on Friday, December 6, 2024. The evening reached new heights as the incomparable Emmy, GRAMMY®, Oscar, and Tony® Award-winning icon, singer-songwriter, and humanitarian, Elton John, took the stage, delivering an unforgettable performance that illuminated Segerstrom Hall.
The night was full of surprises with special guests, including a founding Chair of Candlelight Concert, Ruth Ding, and celebrity appearances including 19 GRAMMY® Award-winning pop music mastermind and surprise emcee for the evening, David Foster. Richard Blade was spinning on the 1 and 2’s for a dance party to end all dance parties, and culinary delights were brought to life by celebrity chef Timothy Hollingsworth, paired with Handwritten Wines’ finest vintages. In addition to the star-studded entertainment, for the second consecutive year, Candlelight Concert also featured a special master class, sponsored by Angels Baseball Foundation, for talented high school students from historically underserved schools, providing them with an invaluable opportunity to learn from and be inspired by Tony award nominees Christopher Jackson and Adam Pascal, stars of two of Elton John’s most iconic Broadway show, Aida and Disney’s The Lion King, in a celebration of his musical theater legacy. With record-breaking contributions, totaling $19.2 million, this year’s concert reaffirmed the community’s commitment to supporting essential artistic, educational, and community outreach initiatives in Orange County. Over the past 50 years, the Candlelight Concert has raised a total of $80 million all benefiting the Center’s artistic, education, and community programs. With dazzling decor, impeccable music, show-stopping performances, and world-class dining, the evening was nothing short of spectacular.
Paying homage to the last 5 decades, the fundraiser came to life with a tribute to its candlelit past and looking toward a brilliant future, with glittering, glamorous, and awe-inspiring designs. Upon arrival, guests were warmly welcomed by stunning floral arrangements that cascaded in lush, vibrant colors, paired with elegant touches of glamorous gold throughout the plaza lobby. As they entered, the enchanting sounds of Temianka String Quartet from the Chapman University Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music set a sophisticated tone, leading guests into a journey “through the decades.” Grand golden archways echoing Segerstrom Center’s famed proscenium marked each era, highlighting the evening’s honorees, all the Candlelight Chairs of the past 50 years, along with all the former Candlelight headliners, as well as the devoted committees of this year’s milestone event, immersing attendees in the Center’s rich history. The final archway brought them into the present day, symbolizing the exciting future of the Center and inviting them to become a part of the next great chapter in this legacy.
To capture a momento of the night’s glamourous style, guests posed within a 3D lenticular cutout, a layered photo moment allowing guests to reveal or obscure themselves within singular or concentric circles, as well as an infinity lightbox photo-op. Master engraver and calligrapher, Whitney Forbes, of The Haute Press, live-engraved personalized champagne flutes for guests as they watched.
As the event continued, guests stepped off the elevators onto the Orchestra Terrace, where they were greeted by Richard Lippold’s Fire Bird sculpture, and silver trays full of delectable signature cocktails inspired by the songs of Elton John. Following the cocktail reception, guests transitioned into Segerstrom Hall, eagerly awaiting this year’s special headliner, Emmy, GRAMMY®, Oscar, and Tony® Award-winning icon and singer-songwriter of a generation to take the stage.
Before the legendary singer’s performance, 19 GRAMMY® Award-winning pop music mastermind and surprise Emcee for the evening, David Foster, delighted the audience with songs and stories and was accompanied on stage by his wife, Katharine McPhee. The performance was followed by heartfelt remarks from the 2024 Candlelight Concert Co-Chairs, Stephanie Argyros and John Ginger, as well as Chairman of the Board, John Phelan, and Segerstrom Center for the Arts President and CEO, Casey Reitz. The speakers offered enthusiastic praise for the evening’s honorees, the Candlelight Co-Chairs, of the last 50 years, with a moving standing ovation for founding Candlelight Chair, Ruth Ding, and a deep gratitude to the evening’s generous donors, whose support made this extraordinary event possible.
Stephanie Argyros shared “John and I could not be more honored to celebrate this remarkable milestone with you all tonight. As I look around the room, I see the faces of so many pioneers who have helped create positive change in our arts community. My family has been involved in supporting the Center for decades and together, we all have built something truly special. I am sorry that my parents, Julia and George Argyros, could not be here with us tonight, but it is the greatest privilege to follow in their footsteps and Co-Chair this historic event. I know my parents are proud to have my three children here this evening, Gunnar, Lola, and Ashley along with my sister Lisa Argyros, my nephew G3, my sister-in-law Shannon, to carry forward their legacy. Tonight is a testament to the collective power of our shared commitment. I want to give thanks to all of the previous Candlelight co-chairs, to the many Segerstrom Center supporters, and to everyone in this room for your unwavering support.”
John Ginger shared “Fifty years of artistic excellence, and fifty years of cultivating this vibrant, art-loving community. As we celebrate this incredible moment in Segerstrom’s history, we are reminded that this is just the beginning. With your generosity and passion to bring performing arts to Orange County, we will continue to shape a future filled with transformative art, available to all and inspiring countless generations to come. Cheers to 50 more years!”
After a loving introduction from the Co-Chairs, Elton John performed a 90-minute medley of his most notable songs dear to all including Bennie And the Jets, Candle In The Wind, Philadelphia Freedom, I’m Still Standing, Rocket Man, Saturday Night’s Alright, Tiny Dancer, to name a few. Following the performance, the curtains rose to unveil a stunning stage, transformed into a gold and glittering dining room, while 32 talented performers from the GRAMMY®Award-winning Pacific Chorale delivered a breathtaking rendition of a song commissioned specifically for the Candlelight Concert, in an emotional nod to the original event 50 years earlier, and unimaginably simpler when the chorale had performed. Adding a unique and enchanting touch to the evening’s festivities, champagne aerialists hung from the ceiling, ready to pour champagne for guests as they made their way to the storied stage of Segerstrom Hall. Each table featured a golden candlelit centerpiece elevated above a flickering array of smaller candles, casting a warm, ambient glow. Towering arrangements of white florals glimmered and glowed. It was an atmosphere that combined timeless elegance and a romantic warmth, enveloping guests in a beautiful, serene luminescence to enjoy their meal.
James Beard Award-winning chef Timothy Hollingsworth, who cut his teeth as Chef de Cuisine at The French Laundry and went on to win first place in Netflix’s The Final Table, crafted a rich variation of dishes for guests to enjoy, in partnership with Patina Catering. The three-course meal menu was a nod to Elton’s songs and lyrics. The starter, Tiny Dancer, featured a cauliflower panna cotta topped with caviar, the main course was Earth and Water, a duet of beef tenderloin and lobster tail with King Trumpet mushrooms, leeks, and a beautiful bordelaise sauce, and for dessert A Taste of Love, a gilded chocolate ganache torte. Hollingsworth has appeared as a guest judge on Top Chef and is one of the judges on season 3 of the PBS series The Great American Recipe. He was also the owner of Otium, a Contemporary American restaurant, and has won multiple awards throughout his career, including the Rising Star Chef Award from The San Francisco Chronicle.
Alongside dinner, guests enjoyed an immersive musical experience with The London Essentials, a band of five musicians with backgrounds in classical, jazz, and contemporary music, who are highly regarded around the world with praise from George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, David Foster, Steven Tyler, and more! The group gave a phenomenal interactive performance for Candlelight guests, brilliantly riffing through songs with spontaneity and humor.
Following a delicious and entertaining dinner, guests let their hair down with a dance party led by legendary Southern California radio, television, and film personality Richard Blade, who is best known for his radio programs featuring new wave and popular music from the 1980s. He has received several awards including the Golden Microphone, California’s Best DJ, Brit of the Year, and the American DJ Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Guests danced the night away as he spun his magic to some electronic sounds.
To close out the evening, guests enjoyed espresso martinis and mellow music in the Coffee & Conversation Lounge as they found their way back to the plaza lobby. Outside in the glamorous Bentley Valet Lounge, guests relaxed on velvet sofas as Tuxedo-clad servers tray-passed late-night bites sponsored by JPMorgan Private Bank, including Wagyu sliders and truffle fries from The Burnt Truck.
Gifts by Presenting Luxury Jewelry Sponsor, Lugano Diamonds, were shared, along with printed portraits of the guests that they had taken only hours before.
