Orchestra of St. Luke's Hosts 40th Anniversary Gala

Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) raised $800,000 at its 40th Anniversary Gift of Music gala, held at The Plaza Hotel on April 20th. Funds raised at the gala benefit OSL's artistic and Community & Education programs, as well as The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York City's first and only space dedicated to classical music rehearsal, recording, and education.

The gala was held in The Plaza's Grand Ballroom, which was transformed with lush trees, roses, bright spring colors, and glowing candelabras. The décor was designed by OSL board member and high-profile event designer David Monn. Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor and director David Hyde Pierce hosted the evening, sharing touching and humorous stories about personal experiences with OSL and reflecting on the humanity in the way the orchestra approaches music-making-something that he feels sets OSL apart from other orchestras. Pierce introduced the musical portion of the evening-led by Principal Conductor Pablo Heras-Casado-which featured cellist Alisa Weilerstein in a stunning performance of a movement from Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 and Fauré's Après un rêve. OSL performed a movement from Mozart's Symphony No. 40 as an ode to its 40th anniversary, as well as Strauss waltzes to accompany dancing at the end of the evening-a longtime tradition at Gift of Music galas.

OSL was proud to honor Carnegie Hall's Executive & Artistic Director, Clive Gillinson. His award was presented by Carnegie Hall board member Judy Zankel-who was a co-chair of the gala with OSL Board Chairman Norman Benzaquen-and by the legendary conductor, composer, and pianist André Previn, who is a member of OSL's Advisory Committee and was an honorary gala co-chair. In accepting his award, Mr. Gillinson noted his admiration for OSL and its commitment to, and expansion of, its education programs-an area in which Carnegie Hall has also expanded under Gillinson's leadership. "There was a wonderful feeling of warmth and enthusiasm in the Grand Ballroom as we celebrated Clive, who is such an important force in cultural life in New York City and worldwide," says OSL President and Executive Director Katy Clark. "Carnegie Hall has been a treasured artistic partner for much of our 40-year history, as the presenter of our Orchestra Series, and we're so grateful to have Clive as a friend of OSL."

Mr. Gillinson became Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall in July 2005. He is responsible for developing the artistic concepts for Carnegie Hall presentations in its three halls-the celebrated Isaac Stern Auditorium, the innovative new Zankel Hall, and the intimate Weill Recital Hall-representing approximately 170 performances each season, ranging from orchestral concerts, chamber music, and solo recitals, to jazz, world, and popular music. He also oversees the management of all aspects of the world-renowned venue, including strategic and artistic planning, resource development, education, finance, and administration and operations for the Weill Music Institute which taps the resources of Carnegie Hall to bring music education and community programs to more than 450,000 people from all walks of life in the New York City metropolitan region, across the United States, and around the world. Under his leadership, Carnegie Hall has embarked upon many bold new directions in its concert and education programming, including augmenting and integrating current offerings to create large-scale festivals each year.

Together with André Previn, the soprano and Carnegie Hall board member Jessye Norman was also an honorary gala co-chair. Notable guests at the gala included Robert and Helen Appel, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Mercedes T. Bass, Norman Benzaquen and Judy Zankel, Joe DiMenna, Dame Vivien Duffield, Barbara Feldon, Princess Firyal of Jordan, Georgia and Ronald Frasch, Susan Graham, Inmaculada de Habsburgo, Fred Iseman, Boaz Mazor, David Monn, Josie and Ken Natori, Lynn Nesbit, Elihu and Susan Rose, Beatrice Santo Domingo, Gil Shiva, Sarah Billinghurst and Howard Solomon, Linda Wachner, and Ann Ziff.

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