MMC’s first Musical Mentors Gala Concert – Celebrating 15 years

Join us for our first-ever in-person Gala on May 1 at The Lotos Club in New York City to celebrate 15 years of empowering young musicians and communities through mentorship and music education.

This event is more than just a celebration, it is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and reflect on the incredible journey we’ve had over the past 15 years.

The evening will start with a brief happy hour from 6-6:45 pm with light bites and drinks. Our program of performances by Grandmentors, teaching artists, volunteer instructors, and students will begin at 7 pm. Performers include celebrated chamber music ensemble and special guest Sybarite5, renowned jazz musicians Chris Potter and Adam Rogers, and accomplished bassist Lizzie Burns. Following this special concert guests will be invited to The Lotos Club’s beautiful library for dessert and drinks with the artists!

6-6:45 pm Happy Hour (light bites & drinks)
7-8:15 pm Concert
8:30-9:30 pm Visit with the Artists (dessert & drinks)

Concert includes:

• Special Guest: Sybarite5
• Saxophonist Chris Potter with Guitarist Adam Rogers
• Grandmentor and Bassist Lizzie Burns
• Teaching Artist and Songwriter/Multi-Disciplinary Artist Rose Stoller (with former MMC student Mari)
• Teaching Artist and Lindemann Young Artist Daniel Rich (with Collaborative Pianist Myra Huang)
• Teaching Artist and Composer/Lyricist/Guitarist Alex Petti
• Teaching Artist and Trumpeter Carter Yasutake (with MMC student Zachariah)
• Volunteer University Instructor and Pianist Bella Berman (with MMC student Mia)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Sybarite5: Equal parts passion, grit, and musical ecstasy, Sybarite5 is an intoxicating cocktail of genre-breaking artistry expressed through the virtuosity and musicality of its members. Having performed in 44 states and 3 continents (and counting), Sybarite5 brings listeners on a musical journey of staggering breadth and depth with new works by living composers, as well as the group’s favorite selections from Radiohead, Coltrane, Komitas, Piazzolla, and Pete Seeger… but as Strings Magazine says: “that doesn’t even begin to describe the range of their eclecticism or the depth of their repertoire.”

Chris Potter: A world-class soloist, accomplished composer and formidable bandleader, saxophonist Chris Potter has emerged as a leading light of his generation. Down Beat called him “One of the most studied (and copied) saxophonists on the planet” while Jazz Times identified him as “a figure of international renown.” Jazz sax elder statesman Dave Liebman called him simply, “one of the best musicians around,” a sentiment shared by the readers of Down Beat in voting him second only to tenor sax great Sonny Rollins in the magazine’s 2008 Readers Poll.

Lizzie Burns: Lizzie is an experienced and sought after bassist and chamber musician who performs in Chamber Orchestras, Continuo Sections, Rhythm Sections, and New Music Ensembles. She has performed with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, recorded for major Record Labels and Motion Picture Soundtracks, given dozens of World Premieres, is a member of The Knights and A Far Cry, and is on faculty at the Hartt School of Music and the Mannes Conservatory at The New School.

Rose Stoller: Rose is an NYC-based multidisciplinary artist. She merges her influence of contemporary jazz, r&b, the Laurel Canyon folk rock scene, Brazilian music, and ambient soundscapes into a corner of her own. Rose has worked as an actor and collaborator in various theatrical productions, both with her co-created production company, Rascal Arts, and with a variety of other organizations nationwide. Recent involvement includes The Atlantic Center for the Arts (New Smyrna Beach, Florida) and The Puzzle Festival of New Works (NYC).

Daniel Rich: Originally from Baltimore, baritone, Daniel is in his first year in the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera. This season, he covered the Count of Lerma in the company’s revival of Don Carlo and made his Met debut as a Waiter in Der Rosenkavalier. For the 2023-2024 season he will sing in two revival productions taking on the roles of Paris in Gounod’s “Romeo & Juliette” and the Grammy award winning “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” by Blanchard as Chester.

Myra Huang: Acclaimed by Opera News as being “among the top accompanists of her generation,” and “…a colouristic tour de force” by The New York Times, Grammy® Award-nominated pianist Myra Huang is highly sought after for her interpretation of lieder and art song as well as her depth of musicianship and impeccable technique. Huang is invited regularly to perform around the world, with tours including regular appearances at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, The Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center, The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, The Kennedy Center, and The 92nd Street Y.

Alex Petti: Alex is a Lebanese Irish-Catholic writer from Massachusetts who grew up as a pop punk rocker. Though his dreams of headlining Warped Tour have ended, the energy of the genre still infuses his music. His show, The Trouble With Dead Boyfriends (music and lyrics) was produced at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh (2016), won Best in Fest at Premiere Premieres! at MCL Chicago (2017), won Best Score at SheNYC at the Connelly Theater (2018), and was workshopped at Berklee School of Music in Boston (2019). Alex was commissioned by CPA Theatricals to write and record music for Girlhood: The Musical, which premiered at the Bravo Performing Arts Center (2019).

Carter Yasutake: Carter is a professional musician with over 15 years of experience as a performer. He attended the New School and studied with musicians such as Jimmy Owens, Cecil Bridgewater, Eddie Henderson, Bobby Sanabria, Billy Harper & Ahmed Abdullah. All of whom would be integral in shaping his musical and teaching philosophy. Since moving to New York City in 2002, Carter has performed with such notable acts as  LCD Soundsystem, Macklemore, David Byrne & St. Vincent. He is currently working with Brooklyn-based bands: Midnight Magic, Underground System, Living Language, and the Great Long Meadow Fire.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS WHO MADE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE: