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A Gala for All Seasons

On Friday, May 5th, more than 200 friends of ETM took over the legendary Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City to celebrate ETM's 15th Anniversary. ETM Board member Andrew Malik and Liz Smith-Malik were Benefit Co-Chairs, and Four Seasons' Managing Owner Julian Niccolini and his wife Lisa were Honorary Chairs. The event raised over $195,000 for ETM's programming in disadvantaged schools.

After an opening cocktail reception and Silent Auction in the Grill Room, guests moved into the Pool Room for dinner, which was filled for the occasion with cherry blossom trees and rose petals. ETM Executive Director Katherine Damkohler welcomed the crowd and introduced the Event Chairs and Honorary Chairs, and presented them with gifts as a token of ETM's thanks for their help with the Benefit.

Ms. Damkohler went on to introduce students from three East Harlem partner schools, along with their teaching artists. Children from Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary and St. Ann's performed violin together for two selections: "Perpetual Motion", and "Blue Danube Waltz", and the P.S. 102 Honors Chorus treated guests to "What a Wonderful World", and "Blue Skies". Next up, Teaching Artist Jennifer Greene wowed the crowd by singing "Quando m'en vo" from "La Boheme".

After the performances, ETM Co-Founder Eldon Mayer reaffirmed ETM's commitment to its students: "[ETM] is all about the kids. I hope that's what you take away from tonight's event. Serving inner-city kids is what we have always been about and all that we continue to be about, every day of the year, every year." He also recognized longtime ETM staff members Rainah Berlowitz and Kathy Canning for their years of hard work and dedication.
Andrew and Liz Malik led ETM's luxury live auction after dinner, with guests bidding on items such as a private lesson with Wynton Marsalis and passes to a runway show at New York City's Fashion Week. After the auction, guests danced to the music of "Big City Swing".
ETM gratefully acknowledges Andrew Malik and Liz Smith-Malik; Julian and Lisa Niccolini and the entire staff at the Four Seasons Restaurant; the Benefit Committee (Kylie Travis Cappelli, Katherine Elliott, Luguang Luan, Clara Kim, Mara Klein, Regina McMenamin, Nancy Paradiso, Gloria Reuben, Patricia Steele, Emily Susskind, and Judy and Walter Handelman); ETM's Board of Directors and staff; intern Jean Bernabe; the ETM Associates; the student performers, their teaching artists (Jennifer Greene, Sharon Kim, and Megan Fong) and principals (Suzanne Kaszynski, Sister Josephine Cioffi and Sandra Gittens); all of our sponsors and donors, especially our Media Sponsor WQXR 96.3FM; and all the other volunteers, contributors and attendees who made the event possible!