Kaufman Music Center Announces 2025 Spring Gala 

Featuring Performance by Tony-Nominated Broadway Star Kate Baldwin

Wednesday, May 28th (New York, NY) – Today, Kaufman Music Center announces its Annual Spring Gala, a celebratory evening honoring the enduring impact of music, theater, and public leadership set for Monday, June 9th, 2025. The event will bring together its vibrant artistic and educational community to recognize the creative contributions of Sean Hartley, Director of Theater@Kaufman and Drama Desk-nominated lyricist, and honor New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal with the Public Leadership Award.

The evening begins at 5:30 PM with cocktails, dinner, and dessert at Lincoln Ristoranteat Lincoln Center, followed by a performance program at 8 PM at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, culminating in a festive champagne reception.

The performance will feature Broadway star and two-time Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin, alongside students, faculty, and alumni from Kaufman Music Center, paying tribute to Hartley’s far-reaching influence in musical theater and arts education.

All proceeds from the Gala will directly support Kaufman Music Center’s educational programs, which serve thousands of students annually through Special Music School, Lucy Moses School, and Merkin Hall programming.

Program-only tickets start at $500

Dinner tickets start at $1,500

More info and purchase tickets HERE

Sean Hartley, the 2025 Gala Honoree, has played a pivotal role in shaping the theatrical and educational landscape at Kaufman Music Center. As Director of Musical Theater, Hartley curates the acclaimed series Broadway Close Up and Broadway Playhouseand leads the Lucy Moses Summer Musical Theater Workshop. His lyricist and playwright credits include Prelude To A Kiss, Cupid and Psyche (Drama Desk nomination), and Snow (ASCAP Harold Arlen Award), with works also featured on Disney Channel and regional stages across the country.

“I’m thrilled by this wonderful honor, which is really a tribute to all my brilliant colleagues and students at Kaufman Music Center,” said Hartley. “For over thirty years, we’ve been making Musical Theater magic here, and I’m so happy to have this opportunity to celebrate it.”

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal will be recognized with the Public Leadership Award for her longstanding advocacy on behalf of the arts, education, and cultural accessibility in New York. Her dedication to ensuring that all New Yorkers can experience and benefit from creative and educational opportunities has made her a vital supporter of Kaufman Music Center’s mission.

ABOUT SEAN HARTLEY:

Sean Hartley is the Director of Musical Theater at Kaufman Music Center in New York City, where he curates, produces and often hosts the series Broadway Close Up and Broadway Playhouse. At Kaufman Music Center, he also directs the Lucy Moses Summer Musical Theater Workshop and is Chair of Admissions and a choral director for Special Music School. As a lyricist, composer and/or playwright, his productions include Prelude To A Kiss (book by Craig Lucas, music by Daniel Messe), which premiered in 2024 at South Coast Repertory and Milwaukee Rep. He was nominated for a Drama Desk for Best Lyrics for Cupid and Psyche (music by Jihwan Kim), and his other musicals includeLittle Women (Syracuse Stage), Love and Real Estate (with composer Sam Davis, 59E59) and Snow (ASCAP Harold Arlen Award for Best New Musical.) Hartley’s works for television include the Disney Channel’s The Book of Pooh and Bear In the Big Blue House. His theater works for children include Number The Stars (from the Newbury Medal book by Lois Lowry), Sunshine (from a book by Ludwig Bemelmans, music by John O’Neill) and Vashti!, and Holy Moses! (both with books by Bob Kolsby.) A graduate of Brandeis University and Manhattan School of Music, and a holder of the Dalcroze License, he is the recipient of many awards, including BMI’s Jerry Harington Award, several Spirit of Broadway Theater awards, The Orlando Fringe Festival Best Musical and the ASCAP Harold Arlen Award. He frequently lectures on Musical Theater throughout the United States. 

ABOUT KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER:

Established with the mission of providing access without barriers, Kaufman Music Center proudly programs a comprehensive musical experience for students, performers and audiences in New York and beyond. Merkin Hall, the Center’s intimate performance venue, provides unparalleled access to today’s most compelling artists, workshops and competitions, offering students, artists and audiences alike the chance to share music at the highest level. Its acclaimed Artist-in-Residence program also gives those performers the resources to develop groundbreaking, multidisciplinary projects as well as educational opportunities to mentor and inspire. Kaufman Music Center continuously cultivates and nurtures new generations of artists through Special Music School, New York’s only K-12 public school prioritizing an intensive, immersive and musically-focused education without financial barriers, as well as Lucy Moses School, Manhattan’s largest community performing arts school for students of all ages.

2025 GALA LEADERSHIP:

Gala Chairs include Michael Bretholz & Sarah Wesley, Estelle Greco, Elaine & Henry Kaufman, and Bethany & Robert B. Millard. Gala Vice-Chairs include Rosalind Devon, Phyllis & Sam Feder, Solange Landau, Cathy & John O’Rourke, and Kara Unterberg.

KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER ON THE WEB:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

KaufmanMusicCenterPR@shorefire.com