FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2004

Mitsui USA President and Mrs. H. Tada Help Raise Most Ever Funds for
New York Philharmonic Opening

Fundraising hit an all time high of more than $2.338 million dollars for Opening Night of the New York Philharmonic, America's oldest orchestra, on September 21, 2004, celebrating the start of its 163rd season.

Philharmonic Music Director Lorin Maazel led the Orchestra in Beethoven's Violin Concerto, with violinist Maxim Vengerov, and Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World." Chairmen for the evening, the most successful ever, with more than 800 guests at dinner, were Lizabeth & Frank Newman and Hiroko & Hiroshi Tada.

"The New York Philharmonic helps me to be true to my heart to enjoy music and friends who love music. To be gala chairmen with Hiroko and the Newmans is so rewarding for me and for Mitsui, not just because of record-breaking fundraising, but more for the true feel of music crossing all borders as our universal language of sharing," remarked H. Tada, President & CEO, Mitsui USA.

To celebrate Opening Night with Mitsui USA, 10 Mitsui USA affiliate companies contributed to the fundraising, including: Intercontinental Terminals Company; MBK Homes Ltd.; Mitsui Steel Development Co., Inc.; Mitsui Textile Corp.; Mitsui Comtek Corp.; Mitsui Machinery Distribution, Inc.; NutriScience Technologies, Inc.; Pacific Coast Recycling, LLC; Portac, Inc.; and Ventura Foods, LLC.

Opening Night success will support the Philharmonic's incomparable concert season and its national radio broadcasts, educational programs, and free concerts on Memorial Day at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and during summer 2005 in the parks.

On Sept. 21, 2004 at the post-concert New York Philharmonic Opening Night gala dinner, Gala Chairmen Hiroko and Hiroshi Tada (far left and far right) and Lizabeth Newman (third from left) with Maestro Lorin Maazel and his wife Dietlinde and Philharmonic Board Chairman Paul B. Guenther

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