Patricia Corbett tribute to be in Music Hall

Cincinnati will thank the late Patricia Corbett for being one of the city's most generous arts patrons in a musical celebration to be held in Music Hall on March 29.

An extraordinary array of the arts organizations touched by Mrs. Corbett's philanthropy will perform a free public concert in memory of the arts patron who died on January 28. Performers will include the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the May Festival Chorus, Cincinnati Opera soprano Jane Jennings and tenor Mark Panuccio, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's 2008 musical theater senior class, members of Northern Kentucky University’s Azmari Quartet and groups from the School for Creative & Performing Arts.

The Cincinnati Symphony’s music director Paavo Järvi, former May Festival music director and Metropolitan Opera conductor Julius Rudel and Cincinnati Ballet music director Carmon DeLeone will share conducting duties.

WGUC's Naomi Lewin will host the event. All participants will donate their services.

The idea to hold a free concert and most of the program was initiated by Mrs. Corbett's son, Thomas R. Corbett, who died on March 3 in Dallas.

The concert will allow the people of Greater Cincinnati "to celebrate Cincinnati's beloved Patricia Corbett, and the chance to say farewell," says Karen McKim, exective director of the Corbett Foundation.

Mrs. Corbett and her husband, the late J. Ralph Corbett, pictured, were champions of the region's performing arts, from Riverbend Music Center to Northern Kentucky University.

"A Musical Celebration of an Extraordinary Life: Patricia A. Corbett" is free and open to the public, 11 a.m. March 29 in Music Hall. Tickets are not required. Doors will open at 10 a.m.; the auditorium opens at 10:45 a.m. For information or to arrange handicapped-accessible seating, call 513-621-2787 or visit www.cincinnatiarts.org.