Yoko Nagae Ceschina Gives Gift To Name Position of Music Director Alan Gilbert 11/18

Yoko Nagae Ceschina, a patron of the New York Philharmonic since 2004, will give a significant annual gift to name the position of Music Director Alan Gilbert. The Yoko Nagae Ceschina Music Director - the first such designation for a Music Director of the New York Philharmonic - has been created to support Mr. Gilbert's artistic vision. Ms. Ceschina, a native of Japan and a trained harpist, a friend of Zarin Mehta and Mr. Gilbert, and of the Philharmonic, has provided major support for several of its Gala Opening Night concerts and initiatives of Alan Gilbert. Ms. Ceschina provided the lead underwriting gift for the Philharmonic's historic performance in Pyongyang, North Korea, in February 2008.

"I am moved by this extraordinary gift, which will have a significant impact in helping to make my dreams for this great orchestra a reality," said Alan Gilbert. "Yoko's friendship to me and my family has become an important part of our lives. She has a passion for music, and for the New York Philharmonic, and has acted on it in a way that has been extremely beneficial for the institution, New York City, and the international cultural community. She has been with us at so many important concerts, both in New York and abroad, supporting us at every step, while personally celebrating the musicians, as she did in Ljubljana, Slovenia, at a party she threw for them just a few weeks ago during our EUROPE / AUTUMN 2010 tour. Yoko is more than a remarkably generous supporter of the New York Philharmonic - she has become an integral member of the Philharmonic family."

"Yoko Ceschina has been an enthusiastic friend to me personally, and to the Philharmonic, for many years," said Zarin Mehta, President and Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic. "This gift was inspired by her belief in the vision that Alan Gilbert has brought to the New York Philharmonic. She has supported one of his primary initiatives, an annual three-week Philharmonic Festival, and is also underwriting the Philharmonic's staged presentation of Janá?ek's The Cunning Little Vixen, in June 2011, which promises to be a touchstone of Alan's programming this season. Yoko considers Alan and the Philharmonic to be the future of classical music, and we rejoice in the heartfelt warmth and excitement that she always expresses when she is with us."

Prior to her decision to name the Music Director, Yoko Nagae Ceschina helped underwrite the New York Philharmonic's historic trip to Pyongyang, North Korea, in February 2008, an event that was watched around the world and for which the Orchestra received the 2008 Common Ground Award for Cultural Diplomacy, and the 2010 Cultural Ambassador Award from the Asia Society. She was a major supporter of the Philharmonic's Gala Opening Night concerts from 2004 to 2008, and contributed to its recent EUROPE / AUTUMN 2010 tour.

Yoko Nagae Ceschina was born in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan and graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where she was trained as a harpist before going to Italy as Japan's first publicly-funded student. It was there that she met her husband, the late Renzo Ceschina. She resides in Venice, Italy.