L.A. Master Chorale receives $1 million gift from David and Kiki Gindler

At a time when budget concerns are gripping arts organizations across the country, the L.A. Master Chorale announced a gift of $1 million from Kiki and David Gindler.

The gift from Gindler, who was named chairman of the L.A. Master Chorale in June, and wife Kiki will go toward establishing a Music Director’s Circle at the chorale, a position available to devotees of choral music who donate $50,000 or more to the organization. In honor of the Gindlers’ sizeable contribution, the Master Chorale is changing the title of music director Grant Gershon to the Kiki & David Gindler Music Director.

In a statement to be released Wednesday, Gershon said it was “an honor and a real privilege” to be the chorale’s first music director to serve under the new title, and added, “I greatly value the Gindlers’ friendship as well as their devotion to the Chorale. Their belief in our artistic mission, which is at the heart of their gift, is deeply gratifying to all of us.”

Gindler has served on the Board of Directors for the Master Chorale since 2008, and he and his wife have been subscribers to the group’s performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall since 2005. The pair have backgrounds in corporate law, with David specializing in intellectual property as senior partner at a large local firm, and Kiki currently focusing on her own projects and supporting the arts while serving on the boards of the Center Theater Group and the Ojai Music Festival, to name two.

“This gift, along with David’s key leadership role ... signals a new era for the organization,” said the LAMC’s President and CEO Terry Knowles in the same announcement. “Their extraordinary support provides a critical foundation for the ‘Music Director’s Circle’ and encourages other donors to give in ways that help the Chorale reach significant artistic goals.”

The Master Chorale’s 49th season begins Oct. 21 with its Organ Extravaganza and continues through June 2.

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Twitter: @chrisbarton