CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF BRINGING EXTRAORDINARY MUSIC TO NEW YORK CITY

25TH BIRTHDAY GALA

Gala Concert Sponsor

Gala Music and Music Scholarship Sponsor
James M. Nederlander and James L. Nederlander

Kids in the Balcony Sponsor
The Leir Charitable Foundations

The New York Pops 25th Birthday Gala on April 28 honored The New York Yankees, James M. Nederlander and James L. Nederlander and celebrated twenty-five years of bringing extraordinary music to New York City. The Carnegie Hall concert was conducted by Steven Reineke and hosted by Liz Smith, Denis Leary and Kathleen Turner.  Reggie Jackson presented a portrait by Peter Max to the Steinbrenner family.  Special Guest Tony Bennett delighted the audience with a surprise appearance singing "Fly Me To The Moon."  Performers included Sierra Boggess, Ashley Brown, Michael Cavanaugh, Nicola Congiu, Charlotte d’Amboise, Gregg Edelman, Ana Gasteyer, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Judy Kuhn, Karen Mason, Debra Monk, Kelli O’Hara, Laura Osnes, Cathy Rigby, Emma Rowley, Kissy Simmons, Haley Swindal, Ronan Tynan, and Steve Tyrell. Also featured were The Fosse Girls, The Nederlander Singers, The Camp Broadway Choir, and The Frank Sinatra School for the Arts Concert Choir.  The post-concert dinner dance was attended by 600 guests at The Pierre. The 25th Birthday Gala raised over $1.7 million.  Proceeds from the 25th Birthday Gala benefit The New York Pops and its Education Programs.

Host Liz Smith, Gala Chair Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, Gala Honoree James L. Nederlander, Haley Swindal and New York Pops Board President Ruth Henderson Photo:  Rob Rich	Young drummers from Ronald McDonald House perform We Will Rock You with The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Photo:  Rob Rich
Tony Bennett makes a surprise appearance performing “Fly Me To the Moon.” Photo:  Rob Rich	Kelli O’Hara sang Cole Porter’s classic ode to city living, “I Happen To Like New York.” Photo:  Rob Rich
Ana Gasteyer sings “Defying Gravity”. Photo:  Rob Rich	Haley Swindal reunited with the orchestra to perform the title song from Charles Strouse’s Applause. Photo:  Rob Rich
Gala Honorees James L. Nederlander and James M. Nederlander Photo:  Rob Rich	Gala Chair Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and Hal Steinbrenner Photo:  Rob Rich
Recipients of the 2008 Salute to Music scholarship will spend the summer at the New York State Music Festival. After performing with the orchestra, the five winners met New York Pops President Ruth Henderson, Gala Honoree James L. Nederlander, Haley Swindal, Emma Rowley, and Gala Chair Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal. Photo:  Rob Rich	New York Pops Board Member Rick Friedberg, Board President Ruth Henderson, Francine LeFrak and Executive Director James M. Johnson Photo:  Rob Rich
Robert Bradford and Barbara Taylor Bradford Photo:  Rob Rich	Bill Schermerhorn and Gala Chair Margo MacNabb Photo:  Rob Rich
Gala Leadership Committee Co-chair Nancy Rabstejnek Nichols, Susan Crow, Tony Bennett, Brandon Curran, Liz King, Lisa Travatello Photo:  Rob Rich	Wesley Whatley, New York Pops Executive Director James M. Johnson, and Robin Hall Photo:  Rob Rich
Gala Leadership Committee Co-Chairs June Freemanzon and Nancy Rabstejnek Nichols Photo:  Rob Rich	Tony Bennett, Susan Crow, Rick Friedberg and Francine LeFrak Photo:  Rob Rich