Brooklyn Music School Presents The Inaugural Dr. Leon Gunther Legacy Award At New HeartBEATS Fundraising Gala

Brooklyn Music School will present the Dr. Leon Gunther Legacy Award for the first time at the New heartBEATS Fundraising Gala. The Legacy Award recognizes BMS community members who have shown years-long commitment to the performing arts and have shared their passion with others either through performance, education, or both.

Dr. Leon Gunther is a former BMS student, physics professor emeritus at Tufts University, and author of "The Physics of Music and Color: Sound and Light." Dr. Gunther attended the music school 70 years ago and grew up in Brownsville on St. Marks Avenue, exactly a mile and a half away from Brooklyn Children's Museum, where this year's gala will be held.

"I could hear advanced students playing from distant rooms and hoped that some day I might play as well as them. BMS's children orchestra was the very first orchestra I played in - I recall our playing an arrangement of the theme from the last movement of Brahms' Symphony no.1 that I adore so much," said Dr. Gunther.

Dr. Gunther shares his passion for music in every aspect of his life and spreads the joy that it brings with everyone he meets. His BMS experience has come full circle and he's making his return to Brooklyn for this year's gala.

"Anyone that attends Brooklyn Music School will find that music follows them everywhere they go. While at Tufts I taught a course called the Physics of Music and Color for over 35 years, I was the principal second violinist in the Newton Symphony for 10 years, and am currently the choir director for Temple Emunah in Lexington, MA. Music has had a tremendous influence on my life and I'm grateful for it," Dr. Gunther continued.

Long-time BMS community member Hope Kelly is the inaugural recipient of the Legacy Award; she has been with the school for two decades. Kelly started as a student in the dance and voice department, and eventually transitioned to the Mentor Program where she served as a role model and mentor to younger students. Her other roles at the organization are as a dance teacher in the Arts Reaching Youth (ARY) after school program and member of the BMS costume department as well as the registrar team.

As previously announced the evening will celebrate honorees including; singer-songwriter Maya Azucena, bass guitarist Melvin Gibbs, drummer John Stanier, and producer/manager Damon DeGraff.

The gala will feature performances by artists, professional and student alike, including Melvin Gibbs, Dr. Michelle Lie (TESLA STRING QUARTET), Gloria Lee, Audrey Borst (BROOKLYN BALLET), as well as ESREAC, a trio featuring Mark Kelley (THE ROOTS), Matteo Liberatore, and Donald McKenzie II. New York City painter, Lauren Kelisha Muller, will create a live painting that will be available for auction at the end of the event

Proceeds from the gala will allow BMS to continue their mission of serving the community and providing an accessible performing arts education.

For more information on how to buy tickets/donate/become a sponsor, please click here.

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