Centennial Gala – Concert / Celebrating 100 years of AMTL
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.
PIANO
Julius-Maximus Cid, Noah Nan, Gabrielle Lev Ran, Jin-Ping Wong, Vivian Zhang, and Angela Zhang.
STRINGS
— 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.
SINGERS
Anabella Kim, Anna Lettieri, and Isabella Panag
added lyrical depth to the program, spanning spirituals, musical theatre, and opera.
Accompanists
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
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,
whose mentorship reflected the spirit and mission of AMTL’s centennial celebration.
Download the program of the Centennial Gala – Concert
The Voices of the Student Performers
“
I started violin because I really wanted to play. So whenever my brother went to his lessons, I followed him.
Sharon Choi, Violin
Teacher – Sanchie Bobrow
“
To be honest, speaking to an audience — for me at least — is quite a bit harder than playing. Personally, I find music to be a much better way of expressing abstract ideas and emotions than talking is, which is why I play.
Neev Khot, Cello
Teacher – Maureen McDermott
“
I want to play violin because it’s so lovely to learn a piece and then perform it for everybody, and everybody enjoys it.
Michael Ceschini, Violin
Teacher – Linda Sinanian
“
I like singing because it makes me feel happy, and I hope other people feel the way I feel when I sing.
Anabella Kim, Voice
Teacher – Sunkyong Lee
“
I started playing music because I really wanted to learn how to play piano. I saw other people play it really well, so I started learning, and I really enjoy when I do something really good and feel good about myself.
Noah Nan, Piano
Teacher – Somin Choi
“
I love music because I feel I can speak easier through music, but just speaking has no feeling. Music can express so you can feel the emotions better.
Julius-Maximus Cid, Piano
Teacher – Margrit Zimmermann
“
My teacher, Miss Marina — and I want to thank her for teaching me piano all these years. It’s really fun, I love performing as well, and I want to thank AMTL for providing the space so we can perform.
Jin-Ping Wong, Piano
Teacher – Marina Obukovsky
“
Music has been a part of my life for a long time, and I really enjoy playing the piano and sharing music with other people. And thank you to AMTL for allowing us to share music today. Thank you.
Sahana Mahadevan, Piano
Teacher – Emily White
“
When I was three years old, I begged my mom to let me learn piano. So when I was six, she took me to do piano lessons, and since then I’ve enjoyed piano — and now I’m 13.
Gabrielle Lev Ran
Teacher – Emily White
“
For me, music has always been an outlet to get my stress out and my anxiety out. Over the past couple of years and the past couple of months training with my voice teacher, Linda Strasser, I’ve definitely built up a lot more confidence in my abilities. And I also want to thank Evelyn for playing for me today, because I definitely wouldn’t have been able to do it without her.
Anna Lettieri, Voice
Teacher – Linda Strasser
“
I like to play music because it lets me go around the world and travel and play in different places to share my music with different people.
Clea Sheng, Cello
Teacher – Maureen McDermott
“
To be honest, when I started violin, I hated it. But throughout the years of my music career — and thanks to my parents and their support — I am in love. Thanks to Dr. Joanna and my accompanist, Dr. Pablo Lavandera, for playing for me tonight. I’ve come to love music because it expresses who I am and my passion, and I hope I can keep sharing my passion with people and give them a sense of joy and comfort. Thank you.
Bang Luo Pan, Violin
Teacher – Joanna Kaczorowska
“
I’ve been singing for what feels like my whole life with Miss Vivian Jaber. Now that I’m in college, I don’t study music — I’m a finance major — but coming back to singing always gives me so much joy and makes my life feel so much more fulfilling.
Isabella Panag, Voice
Teacher – Vivienne Jaber
“
For me, music is my voice. When I was a little kid, I was really shy and scared of people, so music was my emotional outlet. But throughout the years, now that I’ve found my voice and my confidence, music has grown and become a way for me to connect with people — just like this concert today. I’ve made many amazing friends through music. I want to thank AMTL, my teacher Prof. Long in the audience, and also my mom for supporting me today.
Vivian Zhang, Piano
Teacher – Beatrice Long
“
For me, I really love music because it makes you live in the moment and enjoy the moment. Whether you’re playing or listening, you’re sort of distracted from your worries, and it really makes you appreciate the moment. I would like to thank my parents, my brother, and my piano teacher, Chiu -Tze Lin, and I would also like to thank AMTL for giving me this opportunity to perform.
Angela Zhang, Piano
Teacher – Chiu -Tze Lin
“
I first started playing and was introduced to classical music because my mom is a pianist. But over the years, it evolved into something that lets me express how I feel more than my words. Music and cello have been there whether I’m happy, sad, angry — any feeling — and music will always be there for me. I hope that through my playing, the audience can feel what I feel when I play. Thank you.
Ethan Yip, Cello
Teacher – Marion Feldman
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.
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.
Centennial Brochure — Limited Edition
Celebrate one hundred years of musical excellence with this beautifully crafted Centennial Brochure. Printed in a limited run of just 300 copies, this 48-page, full-color edition traces the AMTL’s remarkable journey — a century of teaching, performing, and inspiring future generations. From historic milestones and archival photographs to personal reflections, program highlights, and a look ahead to Season 2025–2026, this commemorative publication offers a rich portrait of the AMTL’s legacy and its ongoing commitment to music education. Created to honor this extraordinary anniversary year, the Centennial Brochure is both a keepsake and a testament to the community that has sustained the AMTL for over a century — its members, students, teachers, and friends.
A meaningful way to celebrate the past and support the future of music.
Don’t miss the chance to own one of the limited copies created for the AMTL’s 100th anniversary for a modest fee of $8 (donation).
Availability is extremely limited.