Times Square Gossip

  J'Nai Bridges Donna Mckechnie With James Gandre Manhattan School of Music hosted its 2026 Gala at the Rainbow Room in New York City, honoring MSM Board Chair Lorraine Gallard and celebrating MSM faculty under the evening’s theme, “A Tradition of Mentorship” on Wednesday, May 20th. The gala was hosted by Bebe Neuwirth, a Manhattan School of Music trustee, member of the school’s Artistic Advisory Council and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degree from MSM.   The evening recognized Gallard, an alumna of MSM’s Precollege Division, for her 12 years of dedicated service as board chair. Gallard joined MSM’s Board of Trustees in 2009 and was elected chair in 2014, helping guide the school through a significant period of growth and distinction. The program also celebrated MSM’s acclaimed faculty, whose work across classical music, jazz, vocal arts and musical theater continues to mentor and prepare students for careers on the world’s leading stages.   Ethan ...

  J’Nai Bridges Manhattan School of Music (MSM) hosted the 2023 Gala at The Rainbow Room, Rockefeller Plaza, in New York City.   Bernie Williams   The gala honored long-time members of the MSM Board of Trustees Marcia Clay Hamilton and Edward Lowenthal. A celebration of the School’s prestigious Opera Studies Program, the evening featured performances by mezzo-soprano and two-time Grammy Award winner, Metropolitan Opera Artist J’Nai Bridges (BM’09), former New York Yankee, Latin Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist and MSM Trustee Bernie Williams (BM’16), recent MSM graduates and current MSM students, among other notable performers. All the scheduled performers were either MSM alumni or current students.  Among the recent graduates to perform included MSM alumni bass-baritone Le Bu (BM ’22) and baritone Daniel Rich (MM’19); both are currently in the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development program. Le Bu was a winner of the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Co...