HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR 24TH BIRTHDAY GALA

Monday April 30 2007

The New York Pops 24th Birthday Gala was an evening to celebrate! Entitled Musical Fireworks, the April 30, 2007 gala honored Neil Sedaka, Paula and Tom McInerney, and James E. Gray, President and COO of Macy’s East. The Carnegie Hall concert was conducted by David Charles Abell and hosted by Liz Smith and Denis Leary. Special Guest Meredith Vieira led the orchestra in “The Stars and Stripes Forever”. Performers included Michael Cavanaugh, Diana DeGarmo, Sandi Patty, Anika Noni Rose, Lea Salonga, Neil Sedaka, Jay Siegel, Haley Swindal, John Lloyd Young, Macy’s Great American Marching Band and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. The post-concert dinner dance was attended by 450 guests at the Pierre. The annual gala raises funds for the orchestra and its free education programs and summer concerts.

Conductor David Charles Abell with Margaret and John A. Grinner III, Chairman of The New York Pops. Photo: Rob Rich	Gala honoree Neil Sedaka. Photo: Rob Rich
Haley Swindal, who made her Carnegie Hall debut singing “Defying Gravity”, with mother Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal and grandmother Joan Steinbrenner. Photo: Rob Rich	Special guest Meredith Vieira and host Denis Leary. Photo: Rob Rich
Recipients of the 2007 Ormandy scholarship will spend the summer at the New York State Music Festival. After performing with the orchestra, the five winners met Board President Ruth Henderson and the Gala Honorees. Photo: Rob Rich	Lea Salonga, Bill Schermerhorn, Anita Noni Rose, Stephen Flaherty and Diana DeGarmo. Photo: Rob Rich
New York Pops Board President Ruth Henderson with hosts Denis Leary and Liz Smith. Photo: Rob Rich	Jay Siegel, Gala honoree Neil Sedaka and Michael Feinstein. Photo: Rob Rich
Meredith Vieira of NBC’s Today Show made her Carnegie Hall debut conducting the orchestra in “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Photo: Rob Rich	Anika Noni Rose performed “In Our Children’s Eyes.” Anika is also performing with The New York Pops for the Macy’s 4th of July broadcast on NBC this summer. Photo: Rob RichAnn Barish and Kelly Bensimon
Diana DeGarmo made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Neil Sedaka hit “Breaking Up is Hard To Do.” Photo: Rob Rich	Tony winner Lea Salonga performed “Just Beyond the Dream.” Photo: Rob Rich
Five-time Grammy winner and contemporary Christian music powerhouse Sandi Patty honored our nation with “God Bless America.” Photo: Rob Rich	Arlene Lazar and Michael Feinstein. Photo: Rob Rich
Etan Merrick, Robert Zimmerman, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Neil Kleinhandler and Naomi Kleinhandler, Robert Bradford, Georgia Tavlarios and Alex Dube. Photo: Rob Rich	Meredith Vieira, President and COO of Macy’s East James E. Gray and Macy’s Great American Marching Band. Photo: Rob Rich
Gala honoree Neil Sedaka dancing with Michele Herbert. Photo: Rob Rich	New York Pops Board Member June Freemanzon and conductor David Charles Abell Photo: Rob Rich
New York Pops Executive Director James Johnson and Gala Leadership Committee Chair Nancy Rabstejnek Nichols. Photo: Rob Rich

Proceeds from the Birthday Gala support The New York Pops and its Education Programs
and free Summermusic concerts throughout New York City.