March 4th, 2023 - The New World Symphony’s Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Gala was a celebration of the vision and artistic brilliance of co-founder and artistic director, Michael Tilson Thomas. Joining NWS Fellows in honoring MTT was Yo-Yo Ma – the internationally acclaimed musician, educator and humanitarian.
The gala experience for the 443 guests began at the registration desk, emblazoned with the logo of the Lincoln Theater, original home to the New World Symphony. The NWS moved over to the New World Center in 2010, an architectural masterpiece that was the exquisite result of a collaboration between Pritzker winning architect, Frank Gehry, and Michael Tilson Thomas.
One of the many gala highlights was the MTT exhibit. Curated by an archivist, the collection of memorabilia marked significant moments and milestones in the life of Michael Tilson Thomas. Items included his baton, sheet music with his notations, and photos of MTT with celebrated composers, Frank Gehry and Audrey Hepburn. In the late 1980s, MTT was contacted by actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn, who asked if he would compose original music inspired by Anne Frank's diary, a piece UNICEF would commission and she herself would narrate. MTT composed a four-part work using text taken from Anne's diary that he and Hepburn chose together.
Decor was kept minimal to highlight the venue. A wave-like installation suspended from the ceiling in the Truisit Pavillion mimicked the structure over the bar in the Atrium. The gala color theme, affectionately named the MTT blue, was expressed by the royal blue stemmed water glasses, menus, lighting, and a bright blue signature cocktail, the MTT Mule, a vodka blend with fresh blueberries and smoked Rosemary.
Full gala production, event design, catering and staff were provided by our team.
CUSTOM COCKTAIL: THE MTT MULE - Vodka, Fresh Blueberries, Smoked Rosemary
CAVIAR with Warm Blinis, Creme Fraiche, Gold Leaf
THE MTT EXHIBIT
An archivist provided fun items from the past 35 years. Items included Michael Tilson Thomas’s baton, sheet music, photos of MTT with famous composers. posters, photos with Frank Gehry and Audrey Hepburn, ticket’s from the New World Symphony’s debut year, and the invitation to the New World Center’s inaugural gala, a 3D model of the iconic building.
THE TRUIST PAVILLION
THE ATRIUM
Senior event producer at Thierry's, Vanessa Lozada, has been managing the annual New World Symphony gala for 11 years and has been designing the event since 2017.
THE DINING EXPERIENCE
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR MARINATED MULTICOLOR CHERRY TOMATOES
SOUS VIDE VEAL LOIN
COCONUT STRAWBERRY CONFIT TOURBILLON + REVISITED APPLE TATIN
