Come “find your center” at GPAC!
Gather with friends for an exciting night with live music, fine dining, specialty cocktails and fundraising.
6 pm
Cocktail Attire
GPAC
1801 Exeter Road, Germantown TN 38138
Space is Limited!
“Full Circle”
Lead Event Sponsor - $15,000
The Lead Event Sponsor receives a premier table for ten guests and prominent verbal recognition at the 2024 GPAC Gala, prominent placement of name or logo on all event signage and event program, recognition on the GPAC website with logo and link to your website, extensive recognition in pre and post social media with logo as a Lead Sponsor, recognition on digital billboard at Poplar and I-240, and four tickets to all 2024-2025 GPAC Presents shows, per request. The Full Circle Sponsor will also receive a full-page ad in the Season 30 Program, Vol. I and II. A portion of this sponsorship is tax deductible.
“Central”
Sponsored Table - $5,000
Table Sponsors enjoy premium seating for ten, extensive recognition in pre and post event social media, recognition on the GPAC website with logo and link to your website, and recognition in the gala program. Central Sponsors also receive a half-page ad in the Season 30 Program, Vol. I, and two tickets to all 2024-2025 GPAC Presents shows. A portion of this sponsorship is tax deductible.
Reserved Table - $3,500
Tables seat ten. A portion of the table price is tax deductible.
Individual Ticket - $350
For more information, please contact Parke Kennedy, Director of Development
The 2024 Gala Committee
Chairs:
Dr. Frank and Sarah Ognibene
Patrick and Katy O'Connor
Carol and Mike Ross-Spang
Sarah and Trey Watkins
Eileen and Steve Wishnia
Host Committee:
Sheila and Carlton Anderson
Susan and Damon Arney
Jennifer and Rich Hughes
Mary and Mark Jenkins
Debbie and Robert Meyers
Event Stylist:
Ann Parker
Parker Design Studio
Featuring
Chef Jimmy Gentry
Paradox Catering
Featured Cocktail Hour Participating Chefs
Chef Roel Mesta,
The Village at Germantown
Back for his fourth consecutive year as a Participating Chef, Chef Roel Mesta, was first introduced to the culinary world at the young age of 14 while working at Ristorante Ciao in Naples, Florida. After working his way through every spot in the kitchen and studying many cuisines, he secured a position as Executive Chef at Masa, a Contemporary Mexican Restaurant. During his time at Masa, Roel received many honors, including Naples Illustrated Best New Chef. In 2017, Roel brought his talents to The Village at Germantown, where he showcases his culinary creativity, wowing residents in this upscale retirement community daily.
Participation sponsored by The Village at Germantown
Chef Chip Dunham,
Magnolia & May
Born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Chip Dunham grew up around restaurants. Working at his parent's restaurant throughout high school, Chip fell in love with cooking and decided to attend The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where he met his wife Amanda.
After graduating, Chip moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to work at Slightly North of Broad, Butcher & Bee, The Glass Onion and Edmund’s Oast. After five years in Charleston, Chip and Amanda decided to back to Chip's hometown Memphis.
In 2020 Magnolia and May opened its doors with Chip as the Executive Chef. Located in Williamsburg Village in the heart of East Memphis Magnolia and May offers a southern twist on cuisine from around the world using the freshest local ingredients possible.
Whether you’re having a weekday dinner with the family or stopping in for a quick bite before the theater Chip's menu has something that will hit the spot!
In his free time, Chip enjoys going to the Memphis Zoo with his children, discussing the latest episode of PAW Patrol or Bluey, and sampling Hazy IPAs.
Participation sponsored by Magnolia & May
Chef Matt Brown,
Villa Castrioti
Chef Matt Brown began his culinary adventure when he was 21 years old when he completed culinary school at MCA and started working at The Grove Grill. He as previously worked at The Butcher Shop and has been with Villa Castrioti for 14 years, working under Chef Adam Papraniku until he retired in 2019. Matt is currently Head Chef at Villa Castrioti where his career grows along with the company. In the very near future, he will become Executive Chef. Matt loves dogs and enjoys obscure French film, BLT's and Boston Cream Pie.
Participation sponsored by Villa Castrioti
Master Mixologist Brad Pitts
Brad Pitts is an award-winning Master Mixologist currently in his 8th season serving as the Food and Beverage Manager at the Germanton Performing Arts Center. With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry in the Memphis area his knowledge extends beyond the back of the bar into the distributing, marketing, and branding aspects of the wine and spirits industry. During his career, Brad has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation and crafted cocktails for some of Memphis’s finest dining establishments in addition to numerous private and charity events. The beverage program at GPAC focuses on service excellence and a superior patron experience for all events whether it be inside in the performance hall or outside in The Grove.
Brad's specialty cocktail–the Center Pivot–is a delightfully vibrant Aperol-based cocktail topped off with blood orange ginger beer and a lime garnish, and is the perfect drink to kick off the evening.
Live Auction Items! - Sneak Peak!
A River Runs Through It
Paul Chandler is known far and wide as a master fly fisherman, so who better to go fishing with? Head over to Fat Possum Hollow for three nights and two days of fishing. Fat Possum is located on 250 acres of private land near Heber Springs, Arkansas, in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Your weekend will be curated by Paul Chandler to the things you enjoy ( fishing, hiking, dining, photography, boating and exploring the great outdoors! ). Paul will customize a unique fishing experience for four people and guide you at Fat Possum, and you will also spend one day floating the river with two fly fishing guides from Orvis-endorsed outfitter Jamie Rouse Fly Fishing. Great for fly fishing experts and even first-timers. (All ages and levels of experience welcome. Meals not included; there is good fare to be found locally.)
Provided by Fat Possum Hollow, Paul Chandler and GPAC
“The Royal Studios” Treatment
Give in to temptation and spend an evening immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of Memphis music history! An extraordinary evening for 20 at historic Royal Studios, one of the oldest continually operating recording studios in the world, where such notables as Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner and Rod Stewart came to record. Boo Mitchell—Grammy award winning producer of “Uptown Funk” with Bruno Mars—and his lovely mama Yvonne Mitchell will delight your senses with a private behind-the-scenes tour to kick off the evening. Then, you will experience a treat like no other. Yvonne has cooked for Bruno Mars, John Mayer, Boz Scaggs and Melissa Etheridge (who ate nothing but Yvonne’s cooking for 7 days straight!). For you, Yvonne will whip up some of the most comfortable comfort food you’ve ever tasted, infused with the family’s warm, homey hospitality. There will be live entertainment (it IS a recording studio, after all) and libations. By the end of the night, you will feel like part of the Royal family. Dinner for 20, date to be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.
Provided by Royal Studios, Boo Mitchell, Yvonne Mitchell and GPAC
Watch Party in The Grove!
This is a UNIQUE opportunity to host your own watch party for a sporting event or movie of your choice in the incomparable outdoor space that is The Grove at GPAC.
Invite seventy-five of your closest friends, family or colleagues for an evening or afternoon in The Grove watching something of your choosing on the giant 18’ x 31’ extreme high-definition video wall. With a full bar and light live music upon arrival, you are sure to have a fantastic time. Note: this package does not include food but GPAC is happy to share our catering list or assist with organizing a food truck. Dates and times subject to availability.
Provided by GPAC
Art of the Cocktail
Invite your guests to take center stage under the lights at GPAC! Back by popular demand, this sultry, lounge-style cocktail party for 50-75 guests on the main stage will feature specialty craft cocktails created by Master Mixologist Brad Pitts, tantalizing hors d’oeuvres by celebrated Chef Michael Patrick (Capital Grille), and live entertainment. Known for his community involvement and giving, Chef Michael Patrick is owner and chef of the former Rizzo’s Grille and has appeared on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and is now Executive Chef at Capital Grille in Memphis.
Your guests will be talking about the flavors and fun of this rare opportunity and memorable night for quite some time! Offer to be used before June 30, 2025 at a mutually agreed-upon time.
Provided by GPAC Master Mixologist Brad Pitts and Chef Michael Patrick (Capital Grille)
Under the Tuscan Sun - La Dolce Vita!
Stay in the spectacular medieval town of Cortona, known around the world as the setting for the book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun. A charming hilltop town, Cortona is truly a gem, framed on the horizon with soft hills and the wide expanse of Lake Trasimeno. The town’s easy, relaxed vibe will capture your heart as you stroll past its countless restaurants, quaint boutiques, artisanal shops and friendly cafes. Cortona is strategically located between Florence, Rome, Siena, Assisi and the wine regions of Montepulciano, Montalcino and Chianti, making it the perfect base for exploring Tuscany!
Stay in a charming apartment for 6 evenings, situated in the heart of town, with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a comfortable and attractive living area. The apartment is merely steps away from the main square of town and from everything you might need during your stay.
Includes an informative 3 hour private walking tour with a professional local guide who will share with you all the secrets of one of the oldest towns of Tuscany. You will also enjoy a fabulous wine tasting in the coolest wine bar in town located in the main square. A wine expert will lead you on a fabulous journey discovering different wines that come from one of the most iconic wine regions in the world. You will have a personal concierge to arrange extra activities and anything else you desire during your stay.
This is a package for four adults. Reservations and accommodations are based on availability.
*Certain restrictions may apply.
Provided by GPAC
Pre-Show Soirée
It’s dinner and a show at GPAC! You’ll dine in the elegantly appointed Watkins Studio Theater on a delicious four course meal paired with wine, prepared by talented Executive Chef Ryan Trimm (117 Prime, Sunrise Memphis, Across the Board Catering). Trimm was named 2023 Memphis Restaurant Association’s Restaurateur of the Year! Après soirée, you and your guests will take your premium seats in the magnificent GPAC theater for a memorable performance honoring the life and legacy of the legendary Tony Bennett. Michael Feinstein and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band will honor one of the most enduring icons of the 20th century with a symphony of sound that only a big band can provide. This is dinner and theater for 10 on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
Provided by Executive Chef Ryan Trimm (Across the Board Restaurant Group - 117 Prime, Sunrise Memphis) and GPAC
Season 30 Anniversary Celebration - Dinner & (A Really Big!) Show
We are celebrating our 30th Anniversary in a big way—with a big show. Four-time Grammy Award-winner Lyle Lovett is bringing his “Large Band” to GPAC for one unforgettable evening. For Lyle fans, this is a unique opportunity to enjoy a pre-show dinner at GPAC (ten people) and then take your premium seats in the GPAC theater for a show by Texas legend Lyle Lovett & his Large Band. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, Lyle and his band will fuse elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a compelling and captivating performance that you won’t soon forget!
The pre-show dinner will take place either outside in The Grove VIP or in a unique space indoors, weather dependent. Your meal will be provided by local celebrity chef Ernie Mellor, who led his Hog Wild team to victory for many years during the world-famous Memphis in May BBQ Cooking Contest. Ernie, who is a former Memphis Restaurant Association President, has also appeared on Food Network’s Chopped Memphis Grill Masters Challenge on the Food Network. His gourmet division A Moveable Feast will deliver a unique and creative menu for your big night!
This is dinner and theater for ten on Saturday, October 11, 2024.
Provided by Chef Ernie Mellor (A Moveable Feast/Hog Wild BBQ) and GPAC
Hola Barcelona!
Ready to spend five nights in a nifty little apartment in Barcelona city center? Barcelona sits on the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the most cosmopolitan and active cities in the country, known worldwide for its architecture, beautiful beaches, great nightlife and extraordinary gastronomy. The charming apartment has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen and a comfortable living area. In the heart of Barcelona, it is only steps away from the main square. During your stay, you will be immersed in the city’s fascinating culture and gourmet food scene through a half-day private market tour with your personal chef, who has experience working in Michelin-starred restaurants in the city. You’ll visit some of the best markets in Barcelona and learn all about the local fare, followed by a hands-on cooking class with the chef, focusing on the savory national dish, paella, which you will enjoy for lunch!
Next you will enjoy a half-day guided walking tour discovering Gaudi and Modernist Barcelona. Included is skip-the-line entry to the Sagrada Familia, one of the most iconic examples of Antoni Gaudi’s style.
This is a package for four adults. Reservations and accommodations are based on availability. If the pictured apartment is not available during your preferred travel dates, it may be substituted for a similar apartment of equal value.
This is a package for four adults. Reservations and accommodations are based on availability.
*Certain restrictions may apply.
Provided by GPAC
See, Swirl, Smell and Sip
Enjoy a private wine dinner at your own home with ten to twelve of your favorite wine aficionado friends. You’ll start the evening with Kelley’s Katch caviar, bubbly and some live music and then sit down to enjoy an exclusive wine tasting led by Tiffany Werne, Senior Regional Director for Pasqua USA. A 30+-year veteran of the wine and spirits industry, Tiffany is a Certified Sommelier and recipient of the Frederick Wildman & Sons Top Performer Award, having helped put Tennessee on the map as a Top 10 Wine Sales Region in the U.S.
Kelley's Katch has been processing wholesome, sustainable caviar for nearly forty years. Publications like the Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker magazine have long recognized Kelley's Katch as one of the nation’s most well-respected producers of fine-quality sturgeon and paddlefish caviars. Processed in West Tennessee, their caviars are both wild caught and farm raised, and their list of faithful celebrity clients is extensive.
The Pasqua family founded Pasqua Winery in 1925 in Verona, in the heart of Veneto, a countryside city between stunning Venice and Garda Lake. Verona is a Roman Empire-founded city and the “capital” of Valpolicella, one of the most prestigious wine regions of Italy, boasting a millenia-long viticulture tradition. Pasqua was chosen as Wine Innovator of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2023. At your dinner, Tiffany will feature premier 90+ point wines from the Pasqua winery portfolio which will be paired with a menu selected and prepared by Memphis’ favorite Erling Jensen (Erling Jensen’s). You’ll embark on a journey of exploration, learning about the grape varietals that make the region shine, their history and the terroir—the combination of factors, including soil, climate and environment, that gives each wine its distinctive character.
Highly regarded Chef Jensen (Erling Jensen’s) has been featured in numerous newspaper and magazine articles in Memphis as well as in Food & Wine, Southern Living, and John Mariani’s Virtual Gourmet. Erling has cooked twice at the James Beard House in New York City and has received many distinctions, many times, including “Best Chef in Memphis,” “Best Restaurant in Memphis,” and Distinguished Restaurateur of the Year.”
This is dinner and wine tasting for ten to twelve in a private home between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.
Provided by Tiffany Werne (Famiglia Pasqua), Erling Jensen (Erling Jensen’s), Kelley’s Katch Caviar, Tennessee Crown and GPAC.
Echoes of the South - Concert, Tour & Dinner
2024 Grammy Award winners for Best Roots Gospel Album, the Blind Boys of Alabama will be at GPAC on Saturday, February 8, 2025. Their Grammy Award-winning album Echoes of the South was recorded and engineered by Memphis’ very own Matt Ross-Spang. You and your guests (eight people total) will enjoy premium seating to see this group, hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “gospel titans,” as they take the stage at GPAC. At another mutually agreed-upon date and time, you and your guests (eight people) will experience a tour and talk with Grammy Award winner Matt Ross-Spang at his Crosstown Memphis studio, Southern Grooves, where the award-winning album was mixed. At the studio, you will enjoy cocktails and appetizers before spending time learning all about the studio and Matt’s experiences working with this legendary group. Matt will share insights into the origins of the album and its making.
After the tour, you and your guests will enjoy a delicious meal at a gorgeous, art-filled space in Crosstown. The space houses the offices of Stringbend Capital, ownership group of Mempho Presents, and the visionary force behind all four of Memphis’ big music festivals this year. Your meal will be created by none other than Chef Brown Burch, personal chef for the Hyde Family of Memphis for the past ten years. Before working for the Hydes, Brown spent a decade honing his craft by working for some of the best chefs in the world—including Daniel Boulud, David Bouley, Terrance Brennan and Charlie Palmer.
This package also includes two VIP Passes for the three-day Mempho Music Festival October 4 through 6, 2024. The passes include complimentary VIP parking, furnished VIP area with seating, dedicated viewing at both stages, dedicated merch area, private restrooms, $100 in Mempho Bucks, complimentary snacks, exclusive access to specialty food options, private bar with premium beer, wine and cocktails for purchase and complimentary water, soda, wifi and charging station.
Provided by GPAC, Matt Ross-Spang (Southern Grooves), Chef Brown Burch, and Mempho Presents
Special thanks to our event sponsors!
