Max Abramovitz (May 23 1908, Chicago - September 12, 2004, Pound Ridge, New York) was an architect of the New York City firm Harrison, Abramovitz, & Abbe. His most prominent works include the United Nations Headquarters building, New York; Avery Fisher Hall (at Lincoln Center, originally the Philharmonic Hall, opened 1962), New York; the Corning Glass Center, Corning, New York; the U.S. Steel Tower (aka USX Tower) Pittsburgh, …

Richard Lippold (3 May 1915-22 August 2002) was an American sculptor, known for his geometric constructions using wire as a medium. Lippold was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and worked as an industrial designer from 1937 to 1941. After he became a sculptor, Lippold found himself on several university faculties, including that of Hunter College at the City University of New York, from 1952 to 1967.

Gilbert Kaplan (born 3 March 1941, New York City, USA) is an American businessman, former journalist and amateur conductor. He founded the magazine "Institutional Investor" in 1965 after studies at Duke University, the New School for Social Research and the NYU School of Law. He was publisher of the magazine until 1990, and editor-in-chief for three more years, although he sold it in 1984 for $72 million.

Hugh Panaro, born February 19 1964 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of Broadway's leading tenors. He began performing at the age of 13. His pre-Broadway and regional roles include Mary Sunshine in "Chicago" and the lead in "Jesus Christ Superstar". He made his Broadway debut as Marius in "Les Misérables", a role he originated in the first U.S. national touring company.

Alexander Markov (born January 24, 1963) is a Russian American violinist who has received awards from the Paganini International Violin Competition (gold medal) and the Avery Fisher Career Grant. He is known for his recording of Paganini's 24 Caprices for solo violin. A film of Markov playing the Caprices was directed by Bruno Monsaingeon. Alexander Markov was born in Moscow and studied violin with his father, concert violinist Albert Markov.

Kevin Burdette is a singer (range: bass) who has worked as a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, New York City Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Glimmerglass Opera, and the Spoleto Festival USA, as well as many regional opera companies including the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Opéra de Québec, Chicago Opera Theater, Gotham Chamber Opera, Toledo Opera, Knoxville Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, and the Lyric Opera of San Antonio.

Adele Addison (born July 24, 1925) is an African American opera singer. She is a soprano. She was the singing voice for Bess (played by Dorothy Dandridge) in the 1959 movie "Porgy and Bess". She studied at Westminster Choir College, Princeton University, the Juilliard School and the Berkshire Music School at Tanglewood, as well as training with Povla Frijsh. Her recital debut was in Boston, in 1948. In 1952, she made her New York debut at Town Hall.

Tamara Volskaya is a performing musician whose principal instrument is the domra. She is a Merited Artist of Russia, a Laureate of the USSR competition, and a Professor at the Mussorgsky Ural State Conservatory of Yekaterinburg, Russia. She also performs on the mandolin. She is a recognized authority in the mandolin world, …

Karen Holvik is a classical soprano, currently on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music. She was the daughter of Karl Holvik who was Professor of Music at the University of Northern Iowa between 1947 and 1984, and Martha Holvik, who taught viola performance in Cedar Falls, Iowa, for many years. Holvik was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She gained a Master's Degree in Music at the Eastman School of Music.

David Hurd (born 1950) is a composer, concert organist, choral director and educator. He is a Professor of Sacred Music and Director of Chapel Music at the General Theological Seminary, Chelsea, New York City. He is also the Music Director at the Church of the Holy Apostles, also in Chelsea. Dr. Hurd has held several church staff positions including Assistant Organist, Trinity Church, and Director of Music at both the Church of the Intercession and All Saints' Church, …

Morgan Ågren is a Swedish drummer who plays with the progressive rock band Kaipa. A native of Umeå, Norrland, Morgan Ågren was spotted as an outstanding talent at a young age as he began performing publicly at age seven, and eventually joined forces with Mats Öberg in 1981. They later formed "Zappsteetoot" together in 1984, a band internationally known for performing Frank Zappa's music. In 1988, at the age of 20, Morgan Ågren was, along with Mats Öberg, …

Spencer de Grey, CBE studied architecture at Cambridge University under Sir Leslie Martin. On leaving Cambridge in 1969, he worked for the London Borough of Merton on one of the first middle schools in the United Kingdom. He joined Foster Associates in 1973, continuing his work in education on the Palmerston Special School in Liverpool. He then worked on the Hammersmith Centre before, in 1979, …

Paul Stein is an accordionist, composer, songwriter, and vocalist. Stein appeared as a guest member of the Kirov Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall at the first Lincoln Center Festival. He has been a featured entertainer and interviewee on WNBC TV's "Live at Five" and other television and radio outlets. Stein is a regular in the annual concert/seminar series produced by his teacher William Schimmel for the American Accordionists' Association in Manhattan.

Lisa Shihoten (born January 12, 1976 in Chicago) is a Japanese-American violinist and teacher. A member of the critically acclaimed Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, Ms. Shihoten is an active and significant presence in New York City's classical music scene. A graduate of The Juilliard School and Yale University, she made her Avery Fisher Hall debut in 1995 performing Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy with The Juilliard Orchestra under Kurt Masur. As a recitalist and chamber musician, Ms.

Jeremy Stein Cushman (born 1990) performs internationally as a violin soloist, with performances spanning four continents. He made his solo orchestral debut at the age of eight with the Great Neck Philharmonic and, at the age of nine, was featured on the nationally televised CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumbel after winning the FAO/CBS international talent search.

Aïyb Dieng is a Senegalese drummer and percussionist. He has worked and recorded frequently with Bill Laswell. He was born and raised in Senegal. By the age of 14 he was playing professionally in a band that consisted of nine relatives. Dieng received his first album credit on Brian Eno and Jon Hassell's 1980 "Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics", playing percussion on conga drums and a clay drum called "ghatam".