On September 27th, the New York Philharmonic hosted its annual Opening Gala & Concert, celebrating the career of its former President and CEO, and current Executive Advisor to the President and Board of Directors, Deborah Borda, in David Geffen Hall. Music Director Jaap van Zweden, in the first New York City concert of his farewell season with the Philharmonic, led the Orchestra in a program that featured Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Capriccio italien, and Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, with Yo-Yo Ma as soloist.
Upon arrival, Gala guests were invited to walk the red carpet in the Karen and Richard LeFrak Lobby; they then proceeded upstairs to a cocktail reception on the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade, where drinks and passed hors d’oeuvres were served. After the concert, guests returned to the Grand Promenade where tables were set with blue tablecloths, silver chairs, and white and blue florals. NY Phil President & CEO Gary Ginstling and NY Phil Board Co-Chairmen Oscar L. Tang and Peter W. May gave remarks at dinner. Music Director Jaap van Zweden, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and Deborah Borda also spoke.
The event was designed by Van Vliet and Trap, with lighting design by Ed McCarthy, Solais Designs, Inc., and was catered by CxRA.
In total, the Gala raised over $4 million for the Philharmonic — the most ever raised in the history of NY Phil Galas — and was attended by approximately 600 guests.
Attendees included: Gary Ginstling (President & CEO, New York Philharmonic), Deborah Borda (honoree and Executive Advisor to the President and Board of Directors, New York Philharmonic), Jaap van Zweden (Music Director, New York Philharmonic) and Aaltje van Zweden, Yo-Yo Ma (soloist), Hillary Rodham Clinton (Former US Secretary of State), Oscar L. Tang (Co-Chairman, New York Philharmonic) and Agnes Hsu-Tang, Peter W. May (Co-Chairman, New York Philharmonic) and Leni May, Oscar S. Schafer (Chairman Emeritus, New York Philharmonic) and Didi Schafer, Henry Timms (President and CEO, Lincoln Center), Chad Smith (President and CEO, Boston Symphony Orchestra), Jeff Alexander (President, Chicago Symphony Orchestra), Andre Gremillet (President and CEO, The Cleveland Orchestra), Matias Tarnopolsky (President and CEO, The Philadelphia Orchestra), Matthew Spivey (CEO, San Francisco Symphony), Jonathan Martin (President, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra), Deborah Rutter (President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts), Daniel Song (COO and Interim CEO, Los Angeles Philharmonic), Tania León, (Project 19–commissioned composer and Pulitzer Prize winner), Angela Chen (NY Phil International Advisory Board Co-Chair and NY Phil Board Member), Peter Pastreich, Ara Guzalimian, Carolina Herrera, Jamie Bernstein and Alexander Bernstein, Russ Titelman.
The Honorary Co-Chairs were Julie Andrews, Bradley Cooper, Renée Fleming, Frank Gehry, Carolina Herrera, Karen and Richard LeFrak, Yo-Yo Ma, John A. Paulson, Steinway & Sons, Jaap van Zweden, and John Williams. The lead sponsors were Mrs. Veronica Atkins, GRoW @ Annenberg, Jennifer and Bud Gruenberg, Linda and Mitch Hart, Leni and Peter May, Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang, Barbara Tober, Daria L. and Eric J. Wallach, and one anonymous donor.
On Friday, September 29th, close to 500 young patrons from the city’s real estate, finance, tech, hospitality, and creative industries attended the second annual Director’s Circle Benefit at Museum of the City of New York.
Led by the Director’s Circle Co-Chairs Bo Curry, Victoria M. Herman, and James Karr; along with Leadership Committee members Adèle Bernhard, Callum Brown, Farran Brown, Jared Cordover, Kayli Culter, Ashwin Deshmukh, Nina Godridge, Nick Gidridge, Joe Hanson, Lucia Johnson, Bunny Laughlin, Robert Rappleye, Johnny Rose, Tijana Suvacarov, Caela McCann Tosi, Justin Tosi, and Megan Zuckerman and Party Committee members George Coumantaros, Jack Curry, Christy Didizian, Colin Duncan, Jackie Fletcher, Eva Herman, Billy Hobbs, Alexander Karr, Terrell Kikis, Caitlyn Rodeo, and Emily Rose, the sold-out event raised over $85,000 for the Museum
Guests enjoyed signature NYC-themed bites and cocktails, danced to tunes spun by DJFLO, and explored MCNY’s blockbuster centennial exhibition, This Is New York: 100 Years of the City in Art and Pop Culture, as well as ongoing shows, New York At Its Core and Activist New York.
Launched in 2022 with a successful 400-person event, the Director’s Circle is an event-driven committee of young professionals. As the next generation of New York City’s leaders, the Director’s Circle guides and invests in the future of the Museum through special events, exclusive NYC experiences, and engaging conversations with curators, business leaders, and the art world.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023, the Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. Winner of “Best Museum” in Time Out New York’s “Best of the City 2021” and multiple American Alliance of Museums (AAM) awards, MCNY engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future. To connect with the Museum’s award-winning digital content, visit www.mcny.org, or follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @MuseumofCityNY and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MuseumofCityNY.
