Hoff-Barthelson Music School

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HBMS 2026 Spring Benefit ~ Saturday, April 25

Honoring

Warren Haber, HBMS Trustee

April Johnson, Associate Dean and Faculty Member

Peter Seidenberg, Faculty Member

5:30 pm - VIP Reception*

Reid Castle, Manhattanville University
(* For tickets at the Benefactor level and up.)

7:00 pm - Concert and Celebration of Honorees

Reid Castle, Manhattanville University

Featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Mackenzie Melemed

With special appearances by HBMS alumna Rachel Haber
and HBMS chamber ensembles.

8:00 pm - Dessert Reception generously sponsored by Seth Greenberg’s Just Desserts

Funds raised will ensure that Hoff-Barthelson can continue to provide comprehensive music education of the highest caliber, offer generous financial aid, and deliver dynamic programs for our community.

Our Honorees

This year, we proudly recognize three individuals whose dedication and artistry have profoundly enriched Hoff-Barthelson Music School: Warren Haber, HBMS Trustee; April Johnson, Associate Dean and Faculty Member; and Peter Seidenberg, Faculty Member. Their leadership, commitment, and passion for music continue to strengthen our School and inspire our students every day.

About Our Guest Artist

Recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 30-year-old American pianist Mackenzie Melemed has emerged as one of the most distinctive musical voices of his generation, admired for his nuanced interpretations, technical finesse, and deep artistic sensibility. Hailed as “an excellent young pianist” by the New York Times, Melemed enjoyed an abundance of early stage experience, with over 500 performances to his name by age 13, undoubtedly one of the most seasoned pianists among his peers. Whether in recital, chamber music, or orchestral settings, his performances are marked by a desire to communicate, to reveal, and to connect—with the score, with fellow musicians, and most of all, with the audience. In anticipation of the United States’ 250th anniversary, he is currently planning what may well be the largest recital tour of American piano music in recent history, Keys Across America — a project rooted in both personal and artistic conviction.

Special Thanks To Our Host Committee

2026 Benefit Co-Chairs

Suzie Hahn |Kerstin Saxena

2026 Benefit Host Committee

(In formation)

Sheela and Suresh Chari ~ Heedan Chung-Goh and Richard Goh ~ Cathy Friedman and Thomas Feyer ~ Julie Gans and Creighton Cray ~ Dotti Lee Han and Victor Han ~ Dalya Khan and Preetinder Bharara ~ Debra and Jonathan Kolodner ~ Janet Korins and Joseph Kaufman ~ Rhonda G. Kost and Alfred Z. Spector ~ Ling and George Liu ~ Eli and Elaine Mattioli ~ Rebecca May and Fernando Rivas ~ Dana Matsushita and David Siegel ~ Francine and Dale Montagna ~ Christine Palmieri and Brian Levine ~ Craig Phillips and Daniel Spitzer ~ Sindhu and Sanjay Rajpal ~ Janet Sikirica and Gregory Barton ~ Janice and Ira Starr ~ Fengyun Wu and Gang Li

For more information, please contact Mary Ann Riad at mariad@hbms.org or 914-902-0712.

Many thanks to Seth Greenberg's Just Desserts for hosting our dessert reception!