Honoring a Century of Musical Excellence
On November 8th, 2025, the Associated Music Teachers League (AMTL) gathered at the Bruno Walter Auditorium, Lincoln Center, to celebrate a milestone — 100 years of fostering musical excellence, mentorship, and artistry. The Centennial Gala Concert united generations of musicians, educators, and supporters in an evening that honored the League’s enduring mission: Honoring the Past – Celebrating the Present – Inspiring the Future.
A Night of Legacy and Inspiration
The celebration opened with remarks by AMTL President Evelyn Ulex, joined by past presidents Eric Birk and Martha Movasseghi, along with words from sponsor Mary Smart (Smart Family Foundation) and Gabrielle Hsu (Steinway). Their reflections paid tribute to the League’s founders and countless teachers who have shaped young musicians through a century of dedicated mentorship.
Rising Artists Take the Stage
The evening’s program showcased a curated selection of student performers — among them winners of the New York Young Performers Prize (NYYPP) and participants from the Mid-Season Musicales and Honors Concerts. Each performance represented the artistry, discipline, and inspiration that define AMTL’s teaching tradition.
Highlights of the evening featured an impressive lineup of young performers.
At the piano were Julius-Maximus Cid, Noah Nan, Gabrielle Lev Ran, Jin-Ping Wong, Vivian Zhang, and Angela Zhang.
The string performers — Michael Ceschini, Sharon Choi, Neev Khot, Clea Sheng, Bang Luo Pan, and Ethan Yip — brought the evening’s classical repertoire to life with warmth and precision.
Vocalists Anabella Kim, Anna Lettieri, and Isabella Panag added lyrical depth to the program, spanning spirituals, musical theatre, and opera.
Accompanists were Pavel Bogomiakov, Daniel Kim, Pablo Lavandera, Joyce Chung-Liu, Hong-You Liu, Evelyn Ulex. Presented were works by Seitz, Bach/Casadesus, Mozart, Chopin, Ibert, Elgar, Puccini, Liebermann, D. Malloy and others.
The teachers guiding these talented students were Sanchie Bobrow, Somin Choi, Maureen McDermott, Marion Feldman, Vivienne Jaber, Joanna Kaczorowska, Sunkyong Lee, Chiu-Tze Lin, Beatrice Long, Marina Obukovsky, Linda Sinanian, Linda Strasser, Emily White, Margrit Zimmermann, and whose mentorship reflected the spirit and mission of AMTL’s centennial celebration.
Download the program of the Centennial Gala – Concert
Mentors, Supporters, and a Shared Vision
Every performer stood as a testament to the partnership between teacher and student — a relationship at the heart of AMTL’s century-long impact. The concert also honored the dedication of the attending League’s Board officers, including Ron Epstein, Don Isler, Dr. Pablo Lavandera, Martha Movasseghi, Anthony Newton, Jeong-Hwa Park, Linda Strasser, Evelyn Ulex, Nina Yenik, Margrit Zimmermann all of whom continue to carry forward AMTL’s mission with vision and integrity. Special acknowledgment was extended to past presidents — Max Antig, Eric Birk, Dr. Pablo Lavandera, Joyce Chung Liu, Martha Movasseghi, Anthony Newton, and Mescal Wilson — whose leadership built bridges between generations of artists.
Community and Support
The success of the Centennial Gala was made possible through the generosity of donors and sponsors, including speeches of Mary Smart (Smart Family Foundation) and Gabrielle Hsu – Steinway & Sons, whose long-standing partnership with AMTL spans back to its founding era. Their continued commitment, along with the engagement of AMTL members, students, and friends, ensures that the League’s legacy thrives. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team of the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the Library for the Performing Arts for their warm hospitality, technical support, and partnership in making this centennial celebration possible.
AMTL’s Centennial Broschure (Limited Edition)
The limited-edition Centennial Brochure, tracing AMTL’s remarkable 100-year journey, was available exclusively at the Gala Concert. Don’t miss the opportunity to own this collector’s item celebrating a century of music and mentorship.
Order your copy here and share in the AMTL legacy.
Looking Ahead
As the evening concluded with gratitude and applause, the AMTL reaffirmed its dedication to supporting young musicians through its signature programs — Winter Musicales, Mid-Season Musicales, the New York Young Performers Prize, and the Honors Concert. The Centennial Gala Concert was not only a celebration of a remarkable past but also a promise for the future — to continue nurturing excellence, creativity, and community in the next century of music education.
See the entire evening in the photo gallery and the Centennial Gala – Concert in the video.
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