Philanthropists Terri and Jerry Kohl have made a significant, $5 million gift to LA Opera, as well as pledging a challenge grant in support of the company’s orchestra. This donation marks the largest gift that the company has received since the pandemic, and is among the largest in the organization’s history.

In recognition of the gift, the company has named Terri and Jerry Kohl as the sole underwriters for the LA Opera Orchestra.

“We are extremely touched by and grateful for the generous, heartfelt, and meaningful support from Terri and Jerry, which comes at a critical moment for the company,” said LA Opera President and CEO Christopher Koelsch. “Our stage has been regretfully dark for a year, and while we have been able to provide our orchestra some level of financial support as well as performance opportunities through our ‘On Now’ digital programming, this gift will help to ensure that we are able to return to pre-COVID levels of employment and artistic strength as soon as it is safe to do so.”

The Kohls are longtime attendees and supporters of LA Opera, contributing to the company since 2008. They are known as civic and cultural benefactors through the Los Angeles region and nationwide due to their range of philanthropic endeavors, such as the Power of Pink program which raises money to fight breast cancer.

“Terri and I are passionate about live music performances, but we care even more about the individual musicians who make those treasured experiences possible,” said Jerry Kohl. “For more than a year, the lives and careers of classical musicians have been completely upended by the pandemic. We want to do everything in our power to ensure that the organizations that employ them, giving them the opportunities to share their talents with our communities, have the resources they need for returning to live performances as soon as possible. The LA Opera Orchestra is comprised of dozens of the nation’s top players, many of whom have become friends. It is a true honor for Terri and me to be associated with this orchestra, LA Opera, and the outstanding service they provide to our community.”