The National Building Museum was the site for National Geographic’s 125th Anniversary Celebration Gala. Olivera Music Entertainment provided music entertainment production for the event, including:
- 27 musicians, including 23 brass and percussion players and 4 African drummers.
- Specially composed fanfares to summon guests from the cocktail hour to dinner and for the awards presentations.
- A Grand Finale, with the musicians onstage, plus antiphonal musicians around the museum atrium, in an inaugural performance of the new arrangement of the classic National Geographic theme. Music radiated from each corner of the room, including the brass and percussion in a resounding grand finale performance, as a presentation of ‘A New Age of Exploration’ explorers were revealed behind a kabuki screen.
- Extensive pre-planning with the event producers and event team.
- Coordination with the conductor/arranger, John Wasson, for pre-event planning, music distribution, rehearsals, and performance.
- Coordination for three days prior to the event for set-up of the stage, equipment needs, and several rehearsals.
- Coordination with the technical crew for sound and lighting requirements.
- Music entertainment production included Kevin Olivera as music coordinator, plus two assistants.
This elegant black-tie event included stunning decor, with three-sided plus ceiling video footage, highlighting sea, land, and air. The meal creatively reflected each of these segments, along with the tables and table decor. The National Building Museum is a perfect site for such a grand scale celebration. Hats off to Gardner Mills Group for an extremely successful and memorable event capturing the essence of ‘A New Age of Exploration’!
