May 4, 2025 Gala Comprehensive Information
Performance Schedule
Sunday, May 4, 2025
David Geffen Hall opens to audience: 12:30 pm
The Westchester Elementary Strings: 1:00 pm
The Westchester Junior Strings: 1:45 pm*
The Westchester Youth Symphony: 2:45 pm*
* Anticipated starting time, performances will not begin earlier.
Ticket Information
Ticket Information
All seating will be general admission.
Tickets may be purchased on Lincoln Center’s website now:
https://www.lincolncenter.org/venue/david-geffen-hall/spring-gala-concert-632
All seats will be $47.00 plus David Geffen Hall facility fees. You do not need to purchase a ticket for your performing GWYOA musician(s) or guests 7 years old and under. If you plan to stay for later performances, you need to save a seat, with your family, for your ES or JS orchestra member(s). All ES and JS orchestra members are provided a ticket.
Concert Attire Requirements
All musicians should arrive at the buses in full concert dress.
Any musician not in required attire will not be permitted to go on stage.
Elementary Strings:
Black or navy pants, black socks and shoes, white shirt with conservative, straight tie, and black jacket. Shirts must be tucked inside pants.
-or-
All white blouses, black shoes, black bottoms (skirts must be knee length or longer).
Please note: Black leggings do not conform to this dress code. No athletic shoes/ sneakers.
Junior Strings:
Black suit (or black jacket/trousers), white button-down shirt, long tie (doesn't need to be black), black socks and shoes. No athletic shoes/sneakers.
OR
Black dress, ankle or floor-length, or black blouse (3/4 sleeved or longer) and ankle- or floor-length skirt or concert trousers, black tights, black closed-toe shoes. Please note that leggings are not a substitute for black trousers. No short sleeves, please.
Youth Symphony:
Black suit (black jacket/trousers), white button-down shirt, long tie (doesn't need to be black), black socks and shoes. No athletic shoes/sneakers.
OR
Full length black dress, or black blouse with black skirt or concert trousers, black tights, black closed-toe shoes. No short sleeves, top must be ¾ sleeve or longer. Dress/skirt/trouser must be ankle or floor length. Please note that leggings are not a substitute for black trousers.
Parent Volunteers NEEDED!
We really need as many volunteers as we can get on this important day. Our musicians require support before and after the performance; all the way from loading and unloading their instruments to tuning and etc. Please take a look at the link below and sign up to assist our musicians to put on their best performance at Lincoln Center, we really appreciate it!
Please see these links!
Elementary Strings: https://forms.gle/uD4a2afq1RHCZ5Bd9
Junior Strings: https://forms.gle/22NCx9rUXeBtuFQc7
Youth Symphony: https://forms.gle/kC5TFWJrG38hMw4d9
What Musicians Should Bring
Please put your name on your belongings.
BRING:
your instrument and music (if you have your music folder) – ALL music folders will be collected after your performance.
re-closable bottle(s) of water.
bag lunch and snacks (all musicians) – NUT FREE please.
a reading book, homework, playing cards. Please limit the number of bags/backpacks you bring to one.
ES lunch time: 10:30 am– 11:45 am (1 hour 15 minutes)
JS lunch time: 11:50 pm - 1:15 pm (1 hour 25 minutes)
YS lunch time: 12:30 – 2:00 (1.5 hours)
Do NOT bring: music stands
David Geffen Hall House Rules
* Please do not try to go backstage. NO parents or families are permitted backstage or in green rooms. Only personnel on approved security list are allowed backstage.
* Musicians will NOT be allowed to exit David Geffen Hall to buy lunch, or meet a friend/family member prior to their performance.
* Late arrivals to the concert will be seated by the ushers when there is an appropriate break in the program.
* David Geffen Hall will open for seating at 12:30 pm. All seating is general admission.
Transportation to David Geffen Hall
It is STRONGLY PREFERRED that your musician(s) ride the buses provided from Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Rd, White Plains, NY 10595, parking lot #4 (same parking lot as rehearsal) to David Geffen Hall the morning of May 4.
Please arrive ON TIME at WCC for the trip to David Geffen Hall. We are on a tight schedule and buses cannot wait for latecomers.
Arriving at Lincoln Center together allows conductors to warm up their orchestras. It also allows the stage crew to confirm stage setup (chairs & stands) for each orchestra.
If it is necessary that your child NOT ride the bus, YOU MUST notify your conductor/parent liaison using the Bus Intent form (will be emailed by liaisons).
All musicians (bus riders and drop offs) must enter David Geffen Hall through the stage door entrance (below).
Please note that the TD Five Borough Bike Tour is also on May 4 and could impact routes to Lincoln Center and traffic.
The GWYOA will NOT provide transportation back to Westchester Community College
from David Geffen Hall.
Guest entrance: 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY (1941 Broadway)
Musician (stage door) entrance: 132 W. 65th St, New York, NY
Bus and Schedule Information
Buses will be departing from: Westchester Community College Parking Lot #4 - (same parking lot as rehearsal) 75 Grasslands Rd, Valhalla, NY 10595
If you were expected to take the bus but have a change of plans, please contact your orchestra's conductor or a liaison ASAP.
Bus Intent Forms must be completed by all.
Bus Intent Form ES: https://forms.gle/2yGMD7fqY5MpucsDA
Bus Intent Form JS: https://forms.gle/2yGMD7fqY5MpucsDA
Bus Intent Form YS: https://forms.gle/mQEWaLPiuPhzmg5E8
ELEMENTARY STRINGS:
Attendance taken at WCC: 8:15 am
Buses loaded: 8:15 am – 8:40 am
Buses depart WCC: 8:45 am
Arrive at DG Hall: 9:45 am
Stage sound check: 12:00 – 12:25 pm
Performance begins: 1:00 pm
ES Contacts:
Conductor : Bernard Klinger bernard.klinger@gwyoa.org
Parent Liaisons: Lucy Luo lucy.luo@gwyoa.org
Stephen Jacobsohn stephen.jacobsohn@gwyoa.org
Fransizka Winkler fransizka.winkler@gwyoa.org
JUNIOR STRINGS:
Attendance taken at WCC : 8:15 am
Buses loaded: 8:15 am– 8:40 am
Buses depart WCC: 8:45 am
Arrive at DG Hall: 9:45 am
Stage sound check: 10:45 am
Performance begins: 1:45 pm
JS Contacts: Conductor Jacqueline Stern jacqueline.stern@gwyoa.org
Parent Liaisons: Katrina Choi katrina.choi@gwyoa.org
Victoria Kravitz victoria.kravitz@gwyoa.org
Ying Yang ying.yang@gwyoa.org
YOUTH SYMPHONY:
Attendance taken at WCC 7:15 am
Buses loaded 7:15 am – 7:40 am
Buses depart WCC: 7:45 am
Arrive at DG Hall: 8:45 am
Stage sound check: 9:30 am
Performance begins: 2:45 pm
YS Contacts: Conductor Kathleen Feldman – kathleen.feldman@gwyoa.org
Parent Liaisons: Elena Inoue elena.inoue@gwyoa.org
Candy Huang candy.huang@gwyoa.org
Farhad Ameen farhad.ameen@gwyoa.org
All musicians must be met by a GWYOA volunteer at the stage door entrance.
If you are unable to arrive on schedule, you MUST contact your parent liaison ASAP.
Dismissal Procedure
ES Form Permission to dismiss (ES & JS)
ELEMENTARY STRINGS:
The release form emailed by ES Liaisons must be filled out by May 1. Unless, otherwise noted on the release form, a parent/guardian MUST meet their orchestra member(s) immediately after their performance (not at the end of all three performances). Musicians will gather their belongings and remain in a chaperoned group until a parent/guardian meets each child. Once picked up a parent / guardian orchestra members may check their instrument in a holding location on the Plaza Level in order to watch Junior Strings and Youth Symphony concerts. Instruments MUST be picked up immediately following Youth Symphony Orchestra's performance at 3:45 pm. Instruction on where to meet your musician(s) will be announced on the day of the performance.
JS Form: Permission to dismiss (ES & JS)
JUNIOR STRINGS:
The release form emailed by JS Liaisons must be filled out by May 1. Unless, otherwise noted on the release form, a parent/guardian MUST meet their orchestra member(s) immediately after their performance (not at the end of all three performances). Musicians will gather their belongings and remain in a chaperoned group until a parent/guardian meets each child. Once picked up a parent / guardian orchestra members may check their instrument in a holding location on the Plaza Level in order to watch Youth Symphony concert. Instruments MUST be picked up immediately following Youth Symphony Orchestra's performance at 3:45 pm. Instruction on where to meet your musician(s) will be announced on the day of the performance.
YS Form: Permission to dismiss (YS)
YOUTH SYMPHONY:
The release form emailed by YS Liaisons must be filled out by May 1. Unless, otherwise noted on the release form, a parent/guardian MUST meet their orchestra member(s) immediately after their performance (not at the end of all three performances). Musicians will gather their belongings and remain in a chaperoned group until a parent/guardian meets each child. Where to meet your musician(s) will be announced on the day of the performance.
Parents: Please do NOT try to go backstage to get your child. Security will not allow you backstage.
Keep in mind it may take several minutes for the musicians to get off stage, get to their warm-up room, pack up, and be escorted to the meeting place on the Plaza Level.
Musicians,
We hope you are all looking forward to performing on the stage of such a prestigious concert hall. We are very proud of your hard work and accomplishments this past season.
Parents, Thank you for fostering a love of music in your children and supporting their work in the GWYOA!