On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, the Lang Lang & Friends Gala Concert and Dinner returned to New York City. Founded in 2008 by Lang Lang, the Lang Lang International Music Foundation (LLIMF) strives to educate, inspire, and motivate the next generation of music lovers and performers. Their unique programs encourage music performance at all levels as a means of social and emotional development for today’s youth. By igniting a child’s passion for music, the foundation is helping children worldwide aim for a better future.
The room was filled with over 300 supportive distinguished guests including LLIMF Board members Christy Cressy, David Hsieh, David Hryck, Joseph Rallo, Elizabeth Segerstrom, and Kyle Wool. Among the Lang Lang International Music Foundations’ celebrity supporters were Kelly Bensimon, Candace Bushnell, Mauro Castillo, Kelly Cutrone, artist Steven Ladd. Among the foundation’s guests were Afsaneh Akhtari, Janna Bullock, Amanda and Carter Burch, Angela Chen, Joan Hardy Clark, Judith Anne Corrente and Wym Kooyer, Laurie Cumbo, Nathanael Hausmann, Joanna Fisher, Chloe Flower, Carole Guest, Michele Gerber Klein, Ellie Manko, Sherrie Mu, Liane Pei, Lydia and David Sarfati, Jean Shafiroff, Daisy Soros, Vivienne Tam, and Victoria Wyman.
The Foundation’s Ariela Rossberg announced their first annual Teacher of the Year Award, Davis Cahill of Jefferson Elementary School in Greensboro NC. Lang Lang commended him personally for his outstanding commitment to music education and presented him with a check for five thousand dollars.
Barbara Tober presented a posthumous Lifetime Philanthropy Award to longtime board member Shirley Young, who befriended Lang Lang when he was just ten. Shirley’s sons, David, Doug, and William Hsieh announced a $100,000 challenge grant for new Keys of Inspiration school sponsorship in her memory. Tober also announced the creation of the Donald Tober Piano Fund for Scholars, helping talented young pianists with tuition fees, travel to competitions, lessons, and piano maintenance.
The wonderful evening continued with musical performances from Lang Lang himself playing several from his new album The Disney Book as well as the Chinese favorite Jasmine Flower. He was joined by Mauro Castillo from the cast of Disney’s Encanto for a version of We Don’t Talk About Bruno. Afterward, the crowd held glow sticks in the air while Lang Lang and his wife Gina Alice performed a romantic rendition of When You Wish Upon a Star. Castillo took the stage once more to perform a Celia Cruz salsa with Young Scholar alumni Maxim Lando. It was truly a moving experience and sight to see.
Musician Wyclef Jean took to the stage for an impromptu performance of Maria Maria, to celebrate his 40th year on earth. It was a great way to bring in a milestone birthday.
The foundation has successfully developed music education programs benefiting children across the world including Keys of Inspiration, 101 Pianists, Young Scholars and Play It Forward. For more information, head over to langlangfoundation.org.