Third Street Music School Settlement to Honor The Roots at Spring Gala

Third Street Music School Settlement, the nation's longest running community school, has announced that this year's Spring Gala will honor Grammy-Award-winning hip-hop group The Roots, Clarfeld Financial Advisors, and Beverly Harper, Third Street Safety Director of nearly two decades.

The gala, to be held on May 8th, pays tribute to honorees for their philanthropic contributions and leadership in supporting the arts and music education. The event raises funds to support Third Street's mission to transform lives through music and the arts. Comedian, actress, and Saturday Night Live alumna, Rachel Dratch, will serve as master of ceremonies and celebrity auctioneer, C.K. Swett will be hosting the live auction.

As long-time benefactors of music education and activists for the creative arts, The Roots will receive Third Street's Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts. Past honorees of the award include, Sting, Yoko Ono, Philip Glass, and Audra McDonald.

"I started my artistic journey at a performing arts school where I met Tariq. Being able to share my story, bring music back into the lives of young people and do it with the longest running community music school in the country is a honor for me." said Questlove, co-founding and original member of The Roots. "Before Ahmir and I formed the Roots we were busking on street corners drumming on buckets. The love of hip-hop and how music bridges gaps kept us going. I am so proud to have the opportunity to give back to future generations of music-makers and lovers at Third Street Music School." said Black Thought, co-founding and original member of the Roots.

"We are proud to celebrate our 122nd anniversary by acknowledging The Roots, Clarfeld Financial Advisors, and Beverly Harper for their advocacy of the arts and for fostering foster artistic creativity in their communities and beyond," said Third Street Music School's Anna-Maria Kellen Executive Director, Valerie G. Lewis. "The funds raised from the gala help to further support our long-standing commitment to providing access and quality arts and music education for all those who seek its enrichment."

The Gala Co-chairs are Alexandra Romero and Costas Constantinides, Katie and Matt Sperling, Felipe Toews and Yuu Fujita. Anniversary Co-chairs include Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs, Peter Flint Jr., Anna-Maria Kellen Foundation, Jeannie Park and Larry Hackett, Tatiana Serafin and Mick Kalishman. Honorary Co-chairs comprise of Barbara E. Field, Philip Glass and Harold Prince.

Taking place at Capitale (130 Bowery in Lower Manhattan), the evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6:00pm, followed by dinner and an awards program at 7:00pm. This event will bring together hundreds of luminaries from the worlds of arts, culture, education, media, business, finance and philanthropy for a night of celebration and giving back. Support through attendance, live and silent auction participation and donations will help raise funds that will go towards scholarships and financial aid services for our students at Third Street.

In attendance will be representatives from the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Clarfeld Financial Services, Ernst & Young, Steinway & Sons, Putney, Twombly Hall & Hirson LLP, TD Bank and Westerman Construction Co., Inc.

Tickets to the event start at $500 per person and $5,000 per table. For updates, please visit thirdstreetmusicschool.org/gala.

About Third Street

Founded in 1894, Third Street Music School Settlement is the nation's longest running community music school, with roots in the late-19th-century settlement house movement. Instrumental in establishing community arts education in the United States, Third Street has been changing lives and its community for over a century by providing access to high-quality music and arts instruction to students of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of artistic experience or economic circumstance. Today, Third Street serves over 5,000 students annually, helping them thrive in school and in life by promoting healthy personal and academic development, opening avenues to further study, sparking professional careers in the arts and instilling a lifelong love of learning.

Located on East 11th Street in the heart of the East Village, Third Street offers early childhood classes, a unique music-centered preschool, after-school and Saturday programs for children and teens, as well as daytime and evening programs for adults. It also provides in-school arts education through 30 school and community partnerships across the city, as well as a year-round schedule of more than 250 public performances. Third Street alumni--many who are professional artists--include violist Masumi Per Rostad of the acclaimed Pacifica String Quartet; Ray Chew, musician and music director of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol; Irving Caesar, composer of the 1920's hit "Tea for Two;" Bobby Lopez, co-creator of the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q and Academy Award-winning writer of "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen; Ingrid Michaelson, pop singer/songwriter with hits on the Top 40 charts; and Jessie Montgomery, recipient of the Sphinx Award.