May 25th GALA

The evening began with cocktails in the lobby at the LED-lit glass bar with blue-tinted canopy.

The brand-new concert hall came to life before dinner with a performance of Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" led by conductor, co-founder, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas.

A video mural by artists Tal Rosner and C.E.B. Reas illuminated the building's exterior projection wall.

The tent's clear top gave dinner guests a view of the Frank Gehry-designed concert hall and the sky above.

Guests dined under a ceiling of custom pendant chandeliers on the Mary and Howard Frank Plaza.

Armless Lucite Louis Ghost chairs flanked each side of the 45 rectangular dinner tables.

Dinner began with an appetizer of napoleon of sweet peppers and tomato confit with microgreens and chilled watermelon gazpacho.

Three different styles of centerpieces decorated the tables, each with cymbidium orchids that had been injected with blue.

Following dinner, guests reentered the atrium hall for a performance from Broadway singer and television actress Audra McDonald.

The event continued past midnight, as guests danced to music from the George Tandy Band.