New York Public Radio Announces Centennial Gala Celebrating WNYC’s 100 Years On Air
Hosted By Seth Meyers
Evening to Honor the Leon Levy Foundation and Past and Present Members of NYPR’s Board of Trustees for Their Commitment and Vision
Musical Performances by Grammy/Tony Nominee Shoshana Bean, Jazz Pianist Aaron Diehl, and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City
Beloved WNYC and WQXR Hosts will be in attendance
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Wednesday, October 2, 2024 - New York Public Radio (NYPR) – home of WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space – proudly announces its Centennial Gala, celebrating 100 years of WNYC at New York City’s The Glass House on Tuesday, November 19.
The gala will celebrate WNYC’s century of service, spanning from its origins as New York’s first City-run radio station to its transformation into an independent public radio station and global leader in audio storytelling. The evening will honor the Leon Levy Foundation, whose $2.5M contribution has enabled the digitization of NYPR’s archives— ensuring access to historical documents, recordings, and photographs that chronicle the institution’s public engagement and role in New York City’s history since 1924. The evening will also recognize the outstanding commitment and vision of past and present members of NYPR’s Board of Trustees: Judith M. Carson, Peter H. Darrow, Eduardo Mestre, Mayo Stuntz, Jr., Nicki Newman Tanner, Wilma S. Tisch, Cynthia King Vance, Alan G. Weiler, and posthumous honoree Alexander Kaplan.
Seth Meyers - comedian, writer, and host of Late Night with Seth Meyers - will host the evening, with musical performances by Grammy and two-time Tony Award nominee Shoshana Bean (currently starring in Broadway’s Hell’s Kitchen), acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Aaron Diehl, and the award-winning Young People’s Chorus of New York City, led by Francisco J. Nunez. Guests will hear remarks from President and CEO LaFontaine E. Oliver and NYPR Board of Trustees Chair Timothy Wilkins. Attendees will be able to mingle with WNYC and WQXR hosts including Brian Lehrer (The Brian Lehrer Show), Alison Stewart (All of It), Latif Nasser (Radiolab), Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger (On the Media), John Schaefer (New Sounds), and Annie Bergen, Elliott Forrest, Terrance McKnight, and Paul Cavalconte (WQXR), among others.
This year, the evening will also include a separately ticketed after-party to give WNYC fans another chance to mingle with their favorite hosts. The after-party will be hosted by filmmaker and author New York Nico, and will include an open bar, classic NYC treats, and music featuring a special DJ set by renowned hip hop artist and social activist Talib Kweli.
Tickets for both the Gala and after-party available here.
WNYC Centennial Council includes Cynthia Nixon, John Turturro, Rosie Perez, Edie Falco, Marisa Tomei, Ken Burns, Samantha Bee, Roy Wood Jr. and many more.
The ‘Black Tie optional/Centennial Chic’ gala will include a cocktail reception, seated dinner, and after party. This year’s gala serves as both a historical celebration and the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year, acknowledging NYPR’s vital work, its impact across its many communities, and the generous supporters who make it all possible. Past gala performers and hosts include Samantha Bee, Roy Wood, Jr., Aidy Bryant, John Turturro, The Kronos Quartet, Wynton Marsalis, Cynthia Nixon, Renee Fleming, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
About New York Public Radio
With an urban vibrancy and a global perspective, New York Public Radio (NYPR) produces innovative, critically-acclaimed programming for local and national broadcast, on-demand and live streaming audiences. NYPR’s brands include WNYC, WQXR, WNYC Studios, Gothamist, New Jersey Public Radio, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space. The WNYC newsroom and Gothamist produce award-winning local journalism for New York City, New Jersey and the surrounding region. WQXR, the City’s only all-classical radio station broadcasts new and archival classical recordings and makes live performances from New York City’s esteemed performance venues available to all. WNYC Studios is a premier producer of on-demand and national broadcast audio, and home to some of the industry’s most impactful award-winning podcasts and national radio shows, including Radiolab, On the Media, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and Notes from America, among others. The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space is NYPR’s intimate street-level broadcast studio and live event space. Further information about programs, podcasts, and stations may be found at www.nypublicradio.org.
About the The Leon Levy Foundation
For twenty years the Leon Levy Foundation has concentrated on humanist values of understanding, appreciation, and preservation, through grantmaking guided by Leon Levy and Shelby White’s deep and diverse interests. Its primary focus areas, designated by Shelby White and co-founding trustee Elizabeth Moynihan, include the ancient world, arts and humanities, neuroscience, nature and gardens, human rights, and Jewish culture. The Foundation has also supported Brooklyn, Shelby’s hometown, with major gifts to Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Alliance, Brooklyn Public Library, and Brooklyn Academy of Music. The Leon Levy Foundation is deeply committed to archival preservation at New York City cultural organizations and generously funded the complete digitization of the New York Public Radio archives leading up to its Centennial, ensuring that WNYC and WQXR archives, including the Municipal Archive’s WNYC collection, are preserved for generations to come.
https://leonlevyfoundation.org/leon-levy/
About Seth Meyers
Seth Meyers is an Emmy Award-winning writer, New York Times best-selling author and host of NBC’s critically acclaimed series “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” “Late Night” and its digital series, “Corrections,” have received 11 Emmy nominations, seven WGA Award nominations and two Critics Choice Awards since the show launched in 2014. Meyers began his TV career with “Saturday Night Live,” in 2001 where he served as a cast member for 13 seasons, head writer for nine seasons and a “Weekend Update” anchor for eight seasons. In 2019, he released his debut standup special, “Lobby Baby,” on Netflix, which was Emmy nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. In all, Meyers has garnered 33 Emmy nominations. His children’s book, “I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared,” was released in 2022 and he currently co-hosts two podcasts, “Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers” and “The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast.” Meyers performs stand-up to sold out crowds across the country and co-headlines a monthly residency with John Oliver at the Beacon Theatre in New York.
For more information, please contact Shore Fire Media - nyprgala2024@shorefire.com