Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let everlasting light shine upon them.
Lux Aeterna is a special opportunity to honor or remember someone meaningful to you in connection with the Wichita Symphony’s performance of Verdi Requiem on April 11, 2026. Inspired by the opening line, "let everlasting light shine upon them," this campaign invites reflection, remembrance, and shared joy through beautiful music.
A Note on Tone and Participation
Verdi Requiem is a powerful and reflective work that engages themes of remembrance, loss, and light. We recognize that these themes may be meaningful for some and tender for others. Participation in the Lux Aeterna tribute campaign—and in all related elements of the concert experience—is entirely optional, and guests are invited to engage in whatever way feels comfortable and meaningful to them.
The simplest ways to make your gift is through our online form or by mailing a check to our office. WSO has more detailed information on additional ways to give here.
To give with a check, please make out the gift to "Wichita Symphony" and mail it to our office at 225 W. Douglas, Ste. 207, Wichita, KS 67202. In the memo line, write "Lux Aeterna." Please include a note with the name of the person you are honoring or remembering and a short message to appear on our tribute webpage.
To give online, you may make a gift through the donation form linked on this page. During the process, you will be invited to share:
Your name(s) and contact information so we can send you a gift receipt
The name of the person you are honoring or remembering
An optional short message to appear on our tribute webpage
Your payment information to make your gift
Make Your Lux Aeterna Gift Here
All gifts made in honor or memory of a loved one are recognized with care and gratitude. Each tribute supports the Wichita Symphony’s performance of Verdi Requiem and helps create a shared space for remembrance and reflection.
All tribute gifts, at any level, include:
Inclusion on the Lux Aeterna tribute webpage
Invitation to the pre-concert remembrance gathering and opportunity to participate in the candle-lighting moment during the concert
Additional recognition and experiences offered are listed at the bottom of this webpage under Tribute Recognition Levels.
Yes. To be included in the concert program insert, tribute information must be submitted by April 1, 2026. Tributes submitted after April 1 will still be included on the online tribute webpage if submitted before the concert date (April 11).
Yes. Photos are optional and will appear on the tribute webpage only. Please submit high-quality images (.jpeg or .png) and ensure you have permission to share them. Photos can be sent to symphony@wso.org with the subject line "Lux Aeterna (Donor Name)." Alternatively, you may bring a hard-copy photo to our office (during box office hours) for our team to scan and add to the webpage. Our team will work to ensure that tributes are updated within two business days of receipt of your photo.
Some tribute gifts may include complimentary tickets, depending on the gift level (see the bottom of this webpage under Tribute Recognition Levels). You may purchase your tickets to Verdi Requiem by calling our box office at (316) 267-7658 or by clicking here.
As part of the Verdi Requiem performance, the Wichita Symphony will offer a brief candle-lighting moment near the conclusion of the concert. Lux Aeterna donors will be invited to illuminate a small candle from their seat in honor or memory of someone meaningful to them as they reflect on the music’s closing themes of light and rest. Our musicians and audience will all find meaning in this moment as lights of memory flicker in the darkened hall while the piece concludes.
Your candle will be placed at your seat ahead of the concert with a note indicating when to light it during the Requiem. Each pair of seats in your party will be given one candle (including any complimentary seats you may receive as part of your gift benefits). You are welcome to bring the candle home as a keepsake.
Participation in the candle-lighting moment is entirely optional. Guests are welcome to engage in whatever way feels most comfortable and meaningful to them.
All tribute-related experiences are offered as invitations, not expectations.
The pre-concert reflection is a short (roughly ten-minute), optional gathering held at 6:30pm prior to the Verdi Requiem performance for those who have made a tribute gift. This quiet moment offers space for reflection and gratitude, and acknowledges the shared intention behind the Lux Aeterna tributes.
The reflection will include a brief welcome and a few thoughtful remarks to help set the tone for the evening. It is not religious or denominational in nature, and attendance is completely optional.
All tribute-related experiences are offered as invitations, not expectations.
What will my gift support?
All gifts to the Lux Aeterna campaign directly support the Wichita Symphony's mission "to enrich, educate, and entertain diverse audiences of all ages in our region through performances of orchestral music, thereby enhancing the vibrancy and vitality of Wichita." Donors are always welcome to direct their gift to our endowment fund, our Youth Orchestras program, student scholarships, our Wichita Symphony Chorus, our outreach programs, or other areas of support with a simple note declaring their intention for the gift. If necessary, our team will follow up with the donor with any questions related to the gift.
Learn more about our recent work to share the gift of music throughout Kansas in the 2024-2025 Season Impact Report.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If complimentary tickets are received in connection with your gift, the fair market value of those tickets is not tax-deductible. This information will be included in your acknowledgment receipt. All donors have the right to refuse tangible benefits.
Yes. You will receive an acknowledgment email or mailed letter confirming your gift and any applicable tax information after your donation is processed, no later than April 30, 2026.
While Verdi Requiem draws on sacred text, the Lux Aeterna tribute campaign is offered as a non-denominational space for reflection and remembrance, open to all. Participation is entirely personal and optional, and we want it to be meaningful to each individual who joins us.
Program insert tributes are visible to the concert audience, and webpage tributes are publicly viewable. If you prefer your tribute not be listed publicly, please indicate this when making your gift or contact us directly.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:
Micaela G. Heinrich-Arndt
Director of Development
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
mheinricharndt@wso.org | (316) 267-5259x105
All tribute gifts, at any level, include:
Inclusion on the Lux Aeterna tribute webpage
Invitation to the pre-concert remembrance gathering and opportunity to participate in the candle-lighting moment during the concert
$50 and above
All of the above, plus:
Inclusion in the concert program insert
$100 and above
All of the above, plus:
Name included in the pre-concert supertitle scroll and lobby screens
$500 and above
All of the above, plus:
Two complimentary guest tickets in Section C (balcony)
$1,000 and above
All of the above, plus:
Two complimentary guest tickets in Sections A or B
$2,500 and above
All of the above, plus:
VIP Invitation to the post-concert reception closing the Wichita Symphony's Masterworks season
Recognition is presented collectively and respectfully. No gift amounts are displayed publicly.
If you prefer your tribute to be recognized online only, or not listed publicly, you may indicate this when making your gift.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact:
Micaela G. Heinrich-Arndt
Director of Development
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
mheinricharndt@wso.org | (316) 267-5259x105
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