A Beautiful Evening of Continuing Support

Kevin and Mary Ellen Connellan were among those gathered to pay tribute to the Soltis.

By Megan McKinney

Guests at the annual Sir Georg Solti Foundation Awards Dinner were subdued this year by the loss of the conductor’s vibrant widow in March.

Sir George and Lady Solti

The Foundation was established In 2020 by Lady Solti—known to friends as Valerie—and the couple’s daughters, Claudia and Gabrielle. Following the conductor’s 1997 death, his family continued Sir Georg’s personal tradition of aiding young musicians by creating the Foundation to fund scholarships for assisting Music School graduates in the transitional period at the beginning of their professional careers. According to Lady Solti, Sir Geog “never ceased to be grateful for the help he received from others during the bleak days before he found work.”