Lunar New Year Celebrations

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Deborah Borda, Mayor Eric Adams, Oscar L. Tang, H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, Angela Chen, and Misook Doolittle at the New York Philharmonic's annual Lunar New Year Concert & Gala at David Geffen Hall, welcoming the Year of the Rabbit.

On January 31, the New York Philharmonic hosted its annual Lunar New Year Concert & Gala, welcoming the Year of the Rabbit in the newly renovated David Geffen Hall. The Gala Co-Chairs were Angela Chen, Misook Doolittle, and Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, with Honorary Chairs Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Greenberg. The Starr International Foundation was the Presenting Sponsor.


Lunar New Year Gala Co-Chairs Misook Doolittle, Angela Chen, H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, and Oscar L. Tang.

Conductor Long Yu led the Orchestra in a program of Asian and Western classical music, with works by Li Huanzhi, Qigang Chen, Guo Wenjing, Grieg, and Bernstein. Erhu player Yiwen Lu and violinist Ning Feng both made their NY Phil debuts on the concert.


Erhu player Yiwen Lu (seated), Long Yu, and the New York Philharmonic.
Violinist Ning Feng, conductor Long Yu, and the New York Philharmonic.

Upon arrival, Gala guests were invited to walk the red carpet, then proceeded upstairs to a cocktail reception on the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade. After the concert, guests returned to the Grand Promenade where tables were set with orange tablecloths, florals, and votive candles for a three-course dinner, inspired by the Year of the Rabbit.

The event was designed by Van Vliet and Trap and Andrew Grant and catered by CxRA.


Dinner table set-up; event catered by CXRA.
Gala florals; event designed by Van Vliet and Trap and Andrew Grant.

Deborah Borda, the NY Phil’s Linda and Mitch Hart President & CEO, and NY Phil Board Co-Chairman Oscar Tang gave remarks at dinner, as did New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams and the Gala Co-Chairs were presented with stuffed rabbits in honor of the new year.


Deborah Borda, Mayor Eric Adams, and Oscar L. Tang.

In total, the Gala raised over $1 million for the Philharmonic.

Attendees includedDeborah Borda (Linda and Mitch Hart President and CEO, New York Philharmonic), Long Yu (conductor), Yiwen Lu (erhu), Ning Feng (violin), New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Ambassador Ping Huang and Mme. Zhang Aiping, Consul General Euy Whan Kim and Sun Young Park, Elaine Fan (Director of Asian American Affairs, State of New York Executive Chamber), Oscar L. Tang (Co-Chairman, New York Philharmonic and Lunar New Year Gala Co-Chair) and HM Agnes Hsu-Tang (Lunar New Year Gala Co-Chair), Angela Chen (Lunar New Year Gala Co-Chair), Misook Doolittle (Lunar New Year Gala Co-Chair), Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Tania León, Jamie Bernstein, and Josie Natori.


Lunar New Year Gala Co-Chairs Angela Chen, Oscar L. Tang, H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, Tian Ling, Diana Wang, Lunar New Year Gala Co-Chair Misook Doolittle, and New York Philharmonic Executive Director Gary Ginstling.
L. to r.: New York Philharmonic Board Member Sylvia Tóth; New York Philharmonic International Advisory Board Members Derek Hu and Stephen CuUnjieng.
Alicia Farrell, Carolyn Straub, New York Philharmonic Board Member Alex Volckhausen, and Tatiana Eck.
Sherry Hui, Thomas Bryan, Shake and Vahe Nahapetian, James Jiang, and Charlie Armstrong, representing Starr International Foundation.
New York Philharmonic Board Member Mary Wallach, Vera and Mike Hearn, Barbara Tober, and NY Phil Linda and Mitch Hart President & CEO Deborah Borda.
Paul Lee, Misook Doolittle, Sun Young Park, and Korean Consul General Euy Whan Kim.
(L-R) Massimo Tassan Solet, Pete and Laurie Costantino, New York Philharmonic Board Member Dr. Kathryn Beal, Claus Moller, Renee Rockefeller, Tiffany Moller, Tina Storper, Tanya Rivero Warren, and David Storper.
Jamie Bernstein, conductor Long Yu, erhu player Yiwen Lu, Deborah Borda, Ambassador Ping Huang, and Mme. Zhang Aiping.
New York Philharmonic Board Member Tania León, New York Philharmonic Oboe / English horn Ryan Roberts, and Christina Ting Ma.
President of The Juilliard School Damian Woetzel and Kara Barnett.
Guangping Geng and Cathy Huang.
Pan Shiyi and Xin Zhang.

On January 27th at the Astor House, the New York Junior League held its 12th annual Après Ski Event, this year with the theme of Winter Out West. It was a sold out event with nearly 400 attendees and raised $25,000. Cowboys and cowgirls hit the slopes for this winter fundraiser! Attendees dusted off their hats, kicked up their boots and decked out in their best denim duds to ride on down to the Astor House Ranch for a little dancin’ and a lot of good grub.


Astor House Events Committee.

Since 1901, the New York Junior League (NYJL) has responded to New York City’s most pressing socioeconomic challenges. Powered by more than 2,300 women volunteers, the NYJL works with more than 60 community-based organizations to advance children’s social-emotional learning and to provide life skills programs to youth and adults who are navigating periods of difficult transition.


Alexandria Howley, Megan Zuckerman, Charlotte Robb, Courtney Amberg, Mary Warren, and Madison Moose-Barrington.
L. to r.: NYJL President Serra Eken and Katie Grishman; Katie Benham, Katherine Ann Johnson, and George Shepherd.
L. to r.: Laura Cupelli, Kate Gunio, and Ruth Zapata; Moriah Lutz-Tveite and Archit Sarpangala Hegde.
Sandy Schwarz, Laura Arnold, Delia Folk, and Justine Merriman.
L. to r.: Kirsten Wenzel and Jamie Williams; Raquel Ringgold, Callista Kinnan, and Justine Merriman.
L. to r.: Deanna Ceriano and Christina Chao; Kaitlin McCabe and Emily Crowley, Astor House Events Co-Chairs.
L. to r.: Hannah Gerard and Kerry Donohue; Savannah Thomas, Courtney Milton, and Susannah Hansson.

Julie Skarratt Photography, Chris Lee, & Linsley Lindekens (NY Phil); Bonnie Gillis (NYJL).

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