Waltzing with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, conducted by Damon Gupton, in the Grand Ballroom at The Plaza.
The
Orchestra of St. Luke's (OSL) presented its annual “Gift
of Music” award at a gala event on Monday, May 4, 2009, at The
Plaza in New York City. Each year the OSL presents this award
to an artist or leader in philanthropy or business who has made a significant
contribution to the world of classical music. This year, the “Gift
of Music” award was given to four recipients, all of whom have
been instrumental in the development and support of The DiMenna Center
for Classical Music, the rehearsal, recording, and education center
to open in 2011. They are: The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable
Trust, the late Charles Grossman in memoriam, M&T Bank, and Ben
Needell and his firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Three hundred guests attended the event, which, OSL board chairman
Norman Benzaquen announced, raised $600,000 to support St. Luke's
chamber music, education, and orchestral programs as well as The DiMenna
Center for Classical Music. Accepting the “Gift of Music” awards
were Gayle Morgan on behalf of The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust;
Carol B. Grossman on behalf of her late husband Charles Grossman; Ben
Needell of Skadden, Arps, Meagher, Slate and Flom LLP; and John F.
Cook on behalf of M&T Bank. New York City Department of Cultural
Affairs Commissioner Kate Levin spoke as well, saluting the OSL for
creating The DiMenna Center, calling it a vital resource to the City's
cultural community.
The violinist Joshua Bell, the event's special guest artist,
performed “Summer” from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons with
the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and Damon Gupton conducted the Orchestra
in selections from Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite and
waltzes by Strauss. Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, the guest artist
at last year's “Gift of Music” gala, co-hosted the
event with Marianne Lockwood. The black-tie evening began at
6:30 PM with a cocktail reception in the Grand Ballroom Foyer of The
Plaza, followed by dinner, the award presentation, performance, and
waltzing in the Grand Ballroom.
Kenneth Bialkin and Joseph Flom from Skadden, Arps; John F. Cook of
M& T Bank; Victor Elmaleh and Judi Flom, OSL trustees; and Carol
B. Grossman were the gala chairmen. The event's vice-chairmen
were M. Bernard Aidinoff, Robert Appel and Helen Appel, Mikhail Baryshnikov,
The Bay and Paul Foundations, Norman S. Benzaquen, Joan K. Davidson,
Emme Deland and Jonathan Deland, Joe DiMenna and Diana DiMenna, Georgia
Frasch and Ronald Frasch, Richard Gilder and Lois Chiles, Roger Hertog and
Susan Hertog, Andrea Holbrook and David Holbrook, Helen D. Lally, Susan
Leifer and Steven Leifer, David E. Monn, Kenneth Natori and Josie Natori,
Saks Fifth Avenue, Janet Seidler and Charles Seidler, Jr., Maria Skirnick
and Robert A. Skirnick, Mr. and Mrs. A.J.C. Smith, Leila Straus and
Mickey Straus, John S. Tamagni, Teresa Liszka and Martin Weinstein,
and Ruth S. Widder.
David Monn, one of New York's most prominent event designers
and a member of the OSL board of directors, donated his services and
vision to the event, creating stunning décor for the Plaza's
Grand Ballroom.
