Adam W. Sadberry, flute Alexander Davis, bassoon 11:00am / Sunken Garden
Aristo Sham, piano 4:30pm / Music Room
Patty Griffin 7:30pm / Venetian Theater
SATURDAY JUL 18
Kyle Sanna, guitar Dana Lyn, violin 11:00am / Sunken Garden
Punch Brothers 7:30pm / Venetian Theater
JUL 5
Johnny Gandelsman: This is America 1:00pm / Caramoor Grounds
SUNDAY JUL 12
Apollo’s Fire Dueling Double Concertos 4:00pm / Venetian Theater
SUNDAY JUL 19
Sandbox Percussion Premieres Christopher Cerrone 4:00pm / Sunken Garden
FRIDAY JUL 24
Verona Quartet 7:30pm / Spanish Courtyard
SATURDAY JUL 25
Jazz Festival 12:30pm / Caramoor Grounds
JUL 26
Handel’s Tolomeo 4:00pm / Venetian Theater
FRIDAY JUL 31
Ruckus The Edinburgh Rollick
7:30pm / Spanish Courtyard
SATURDAY AUG 1
Emily Levin, harp Julia Choi, violin 11:00am / Sunken Garden
Njioma Grevious, violin
Andrew Goodridge, piano
4:30pm / Music Room
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
7:30pm / Venetian Theater
SUNDAY AUG 2
Orchestra of St. Luke’s & Gil Shaham 4:00pm / Venetian Theater
Dear Friends,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Caramoor’s Opening Night Summer Gala.
Each year, this special evening marks more than the start of our Summer Season. It is a celebration of the extraordinary community that makes Caramoor such a vibrant cultural destination where music, arts, and nature come together. I am deeply grateful for your presence and your partnership in bringing this shared vision to life.
Tonight, we gather in honor of Jane Donaldson and her beloved late husband, Bill, whose enduring commitment to Caramoor has helped shape and sustain this remarkable institution. We are proud to bestow upon them the Cultural Impact Award in recognition of their generosity, leadership, and love of music, which continues to leave a lasting imprint on our organization and on all who experience Caramoor.
I am also delighted that we are presenting the first Artistic Achievement Award to the incomparable Kelli O’Hara. In addition to being widely regarded as one of the leading musical theater performers of her generation, Kelli continues to be a passionate advocate
for arts education, sharing how quality arts access shaped her life and career.
As we look ahead, I am filled with optimism for what we are building together. This season reflects a dynamic period of momentum and growth, as we expand programmatic offerings, deepen community engagement, and create new pathways for guests of all ages to connect with the arts. From inspiring performances by world-class artists to programs that welcome and engage new audiences, Caramoor continues to evolve while remaining rooted in the beauty, history, and spirit that define this place.
Your support this evening plays a vital role in ensuring that Caramoor remains a place of discovery, creativity, and connection for generations to come, and that we can continue to nurture emerging artists, preserve our historic home and gardens, and keep our campus open and accessible to all.
Thank you for being part of this unforgettable evening and for supporting and sustaining Caramoor’s future.
With warmest gratitude,
Gillian Fox President and Chief Executive Officer
DONORS TO THE OPENING NIGHT SUMMER GALA
THEREMIN
The Donaldson Family
Judy & Tony Evnin
Tracy & Ted McCourtney
Sue & Edgar Wachenheim, III
Leslie Williams & Jim Attwood
GRAND PIANO
Mimi & Barry J. Alperin
Nancy & Jon Bauer
Sandra & Bill Cordiano
Susan W. Freund
Armando Gutierrez & Jack L. Johnson
Angela & William Haines
Stephen T. Limpe
Indra & Raj Nooyi
Nancy S. & Morris W. Offit
Amy Parsons & Paul Bird
CELLO
Karen & Robert Dinerstein
Margaret & Chris Edson
Joni Evans & Bob Perkins and Stephanie Stiefel & Robert S. Cohen
Effie & Robert Fribourg
Edythe Gladstein
Amy & John Peckham
Susan & Ken Wallach
Tina & Ian M. Winchester
FRENCH HORN
David W. Barber
Margot & Jerry Bogert
James W. Crystal
Barbara & E. Robert Goodkind
Georgia & David Keidan
Katherine & Peter Kend
Linda J. Merrill & Dr. William B. Nolan
Marnie S. Pillsbury
Yvonne Pollack
Eliah Seton & Dr. Jamie McKeever
Bonnie & Tom Strauss
Lisa & Paul Welch
VIOLIN
Andron Construction Corporation
Chris & Jim Cowperthwait
Emme & Jonathan Deland
Pamela Farr & Buford Alexander
Jeanne Donovan Fisher
Wendy & Bill Foulke
Margarita & Peter Gottsegen
Gerry H. Hodes
Floy & Amos Kaminski
Stephen Lowey
Faith Rosenfeld & Jaime Castro
Denise & Andrew Saul
Beth Chartoff Spector & Jason Spector
Wendy Stein & Bart Friedman
Bonnie & Charles Tisi
Judi Wolf & Alden L. Toevs
Fay & Tom Walsh
Kimba M. Wood & Frank E. Richardson
Anonymous
CLARINET
Lucy & Mike Danziger
Karen & Gerry Fox
Great Performances
Maggie Grise & Adam Silver
Maureen E. Hanagan
Olga & Michael Kagan
Kim Larson & Gary E. Knell
Loriann & Tim Low
Margery & Edgar Masinter
Thank you for playing your part in making great music come to life!
Melissa H. Mulrooney
Museum of American Finance
Linda Rappaport & Leonard Chazen
Eve H. Rice & Timothy Mattison
Susan & Elihu Rose
Katherine & Steven Seiden
Rebecca Stevens & Dan Broden
Deborah F. Stiles
Frederica Wald
Mr. & Mrs. Herbert S. Winokur
FLUTE
Karen Adler
Photeine Anagnostopoulos & James Stynes
Mitch & Kim Berns
Laura Blau & Michael Citro
Cynthia & Steven Brill
Susanne & Joe Cusato
Carolyn & Colm Dobbyn
Kim & Adam Donaldson
Mrs. R. Evans
Isabelle Harnoncourt Feigen
Gillian & Michael Fox
Ellen & David Freeman
Jill & Lee Goldman
Susan & Donald Greenwald
Ellen & Robert Grimes
Betty Himmel
Adelaide Jones
Erika Kessel & Lawrence Webber
Stanley Kogelman
Drs. Melissa & Lewis Kohl
Nanette & Federico Laffan
Marsh McLennan Agency
Jaimie Mayer & Daniel Raiffe
Anne P. McDowell
Ms. Shaena C. McPadden
Pamela Moffat
Vivian & David Moreinis
Eileen Milloy Murphy
Mary Nakashian
Heidi Paul & Andy Bolster
Nancy Phillips & Tom Dunne
Nicki & David Pogue
Mary Prehn & John Scacchia
Celeste & Joseph Rault
Eve H. Rice & Timothy Mattison
Betty Robbins & Moses Silverman
Simrat & Parminder Singh
Manita Scocimara
Katherine & Steven Seiden
Nina & Michael Stanton
Ellen Stein
Jean Troubh
Kate & Seymour Weingarten
Wendy Zimmerman & Steve Cutler
CHORUS
Peter Aupperle & Stewart Fishbein
Beth & Barry M. Borza
Erica & Andrew Baren
Camilla Dietz Bergeron, Ltd.
Alice B. Duff
Margaret Mary Dunne
Jane Goldman
Mrs. Betsy Grant
Edward J. Lewis, III & Dr. Scott R. Palmer
Anne Patterson & Robert S. Potter
Jane L. Polin
Lolly H. Prince
N. A. Risser
Roberta A. Schmidt
Wendy Smolen & Norton Lazarus
Susan & Michael Stillman
Maureen & Thomas Tierney
Regina & Jason Vintiadis
As of June 5th, 2026
HONORING JANE & BILL DONALDSON
Tonight, it is our great honor to recognize Jane Donaldson and her late husband, Bill, as dedicated champions of Caramoor. On an evening that celebrates all those who sustain this remarkable place, we are especially grateful to Jane for the leadership and commitment she has brought to Caramoor for over a decade.
Together, Jane and Bill have supported Caramoor as generous donors and committed advocates for its mission. They enjoyed the full breadth of our musical offerings across our venues and attended many events in support of our education programs. Their longstanding involvement reflects a genuine belief in the importance of Caramoor’s programs and its vital role within our community.
Since joining the Board of Trustees in 2014, Jane has played an integral role in shaping the organization during a period of meaningful growth and renewal. A member of the Executive Committee and chair of the People, Culture, and Compensation committee, she has contributed clear judgment, institutional perspective, and a deep understanding of nonprofit leadership to her work.
Her dedication to fostering a strong and vibrant future for Caramoor has been felt across every aspect of the institution.
Beyond Caramoor, Jane has built a distinguished career in nonprofit leadership and higher education as co-founder of the executive search firm Phillips Oppenheim. She has brought this valuable experience and insight to Caramoor, always grounded in the needs of the organization.
We are deeply grateful and proud to celebrate Jane and Bill tonight for all they have done to help position Caramoor for continued successes in the years ahead.
HONORING KELLI O’HARA
Tony Award Winner, Emmy, SAG, Olivier and Grammy-nominated actress Kelli O’Hara has established herself as one of Broadway’s greatest leading ladies.
She first appeared at Caramoor in 2011, and returned to open our 2015 Summer Season, just after winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in The King and I at Lincoln Center Theater, as well making history as the first artist to cross over from Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera with her debut in The Merry Widow opposite Renee Fleming. The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific, The Pajama Game, Kiss Me, Kate and The Days of Wine and Roses are just a few of the other musicals she has starred in.
Most recently, she starred with Tom Hanks in the world premiere of This World of Tomorrow at The Shed, and with Rose Byrne in Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels, for which she received a 2026 Tony nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Play.
On TV she can be seen in HBO’s The Gilded Age, CBS’s Sheriff Country and Ryan Murphy’s FX series The Beauty. Her solo concerts take her across the world, and she is a frequent concert performer on PBS’s live telecasts, and performs often alongside The New York Philharmonic and The New York Pops. She has two solo albums, Always and Wonder in the World.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The Ernst Stiefel String Quartet Annual Residency
For 81 years, Caramoor has captivated visitors as a vibrant home for creativity. Lucie and Walter Rosen’s founding vision of bringing people together through the arts has stood the test of time, with generations of world-class musicians gracing Caramoor’s stages over the years. That legacy continues not only through the artists Caramoor presents today, but also through its long history of fostering early-career talent through mentoring programs. Since 1999, Caramoor has selected a promising ensemble for the annual Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence program, including opportunities for public performances, career development, and community engagement. Each year brings an exciting group of musicians with an innovative approach, and the 2025-26 Quartet-inResidence is no exception.
The Poiesis Quartet arrived at Caramoor fresh from
their Grand Prize win at the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition. Composed of Sarah Ying Ma and Max Ball on violin, Jasper de Boor on viola, and Drew Dansby on cello, the Quartet formed in an Oberlin College & Conservatory seminar class in 2022 and quickly attracted acclaim, winning prizes in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and St. Paul String Quartet Competition in 2023. They derived the name “Poiesis” from the ancient Greek word for ‘the creation of something that has never existed before’, reflecting the Poiesis Quartet performing in the Rosen House Music Room at Caramoor on May 3, 2026.
Quartet’s eclectic programming and emphasis on emerging composers. This one-of-a-kind ethos was a perfect fit for a venue like Caramoor, which is regarded by many who visit as a place like no other.
The Quartet kicked off their residency in November with a concert in Caramoor’s intimate Music Room. This show was named one of the best classical performances of 2025 by The New York Times, which lauded the ensemble’s “multifaceted artistry” and “brilliantly idiomatic” programming.
In addition to performances at Caramoor, the ensemble brought their talents into the
by Daniel Kumapayi
local community. During the 2025-26 season, they conducted visits to 26 schools, hosting masterclasses and workshops that reached over 1,000 local music students.
“Many of the students do not get to go and see professional musicians on their instruments, especially the opportunity to interact with them and see them up close,” one school administrator said. “Thank you for keeping this valuable opportunity open for our students.”
Beyond schools, the Quartet performed twice at the Heritage Hills senior living residence, fostering greater connection with seniors in the community. The Poiesis Quartet also brought music to incarcerated individuals at the Bedford Hills Correctional
Poiesis Quartet working with students.
Photo
Facility, where an administrator shared, “A million thanks for a wonderful afternoon of music and conversation. You brought warmth and connection to a place where there is little.”
The Poiesis Quartet’s Caramoor residency will conclude on Thursday, July 2 with a concert in the Music Room, bringing newly commissioned pieces to life in a program exploring queer identity and heritage. Though the Quartet’s time at Caramoor is drawing to a close, their future is boundless, and the inspiration their musicianship has instilled in
those who have attended their concerts or been reached by their community engagement is sure to be cherished for years to come. We hope you can be amongst their fans who can say “I remember when I saw them at Caramoor!” as they continue to rise in their career.
We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of Caramoor’s community, which has helped Caramoor flourish, not only as a place where brilliant artistry can be experienced, but as a sanctuary for its cultivation as well.
Photo by Daniel Kumapayi
ALUMNI QUARTETS AND COMMISSIONED COMPOSERS
2024–25: Terra String Quartet / Juri Seo
2023–24: Abeo Quartet / Jessica Mays
2022–23: Ivalas Quartet / Derrick Skye
2020–22: Callisto Quartet / Saad Haddad
2019–20: Thalea Quartet / Paola Prestini
2018–19: Omer Quartet / Gabriella Smith
2017–18: Verona Quartet / Julia Adolphe
2016–17: Argus Quartet / Donald Crockett
2015–16: Aizuri Quartet / Paul Wiancko
2014–15: The Calidore Quartet / Patrick Harlin
2013–14: Dover Quartet / David Ludwig
2012–13: The Amphion Quartet / Yevgeniy Sharlat
2011–12: Linden String Quartet / Gabriel Kahane
2009–11: Jasper String Quartet / Andrew Norman
2008–09: Ariel String Quartet / Yohanan Chendler
2007–08: Escher String Quartet / Pierre Jalbert
2006–07: Parker Quartet / Lera Auerbach
2005–06: Jupiter String Quartet / John Musto
2004–05: Amernet String Quartet / Joel Hoffman
2003–04: Daedalus Quartet / David Horne
2002–03: Rossetti String Quartet / John Harbison
2001–02: Pacifica Quartet / Marta Ptaszynska
2000–01: Miró Quartet / Brent Michael Davids
1999–00: Avalon String Quartet / Augusta Read Thomas
Hear from Drew Dansby of the Poiesis Quartet, explaining the program and its impact in this short video:
GIVING IN ACTION
At Caramoor, we believe that access to music is essential. Our education and engagement initiatives bring artists into classrooms, welcome families to the grounds, and foster meaningful connections between musicians and the community.
In 2025:
• Local students reached through our Student Strings program: 1,000
• Schools and partner organizations served: 14
• Free or reduced-price tickets distributed: 5,714
Through these efforts, Caramoor continues to nurture curiosity, creativity, and lifelong relationships with the arts.
Mom -
You and Dad are simply the best. Your commitment to supporting the community inspires us, and we couldn’t be more proud to celebrate you both today.
We love you!
Adam, Kimmy, & West Donaldson
Celebrating Jane and the late Bill Donaldson’s many years of Caramoor support from your friends at the Museum of American Finance
What an incredible variety of musical talent we are privileged to enjoy this 2026 season at Caramoor—
Thank you to all the creative staff who work to make this gift possible!
Yvonne Pollack
To experience all that Caramoor has to offer is a privilege.
Susie Freund
HONORING
Jane and Bill Donaldson
Your generosity, vision, and leadership in the arts and community continue to inspire and enrich countless lives.
With congratulations and admiration,
Frederica Wald Ackerman Institute for the Family
Congratulations and thank you to Jane Donaldson for her unwavering support of Caramoor and its mission. Let us also celebrate both Jane and Bill for their many years of personal commitment to building a strong foundation for Caramoor’s future.
Sandy and Bill Cordiano
Congratulations and thank you to Jane Donaldson for her many years of sage advice and Jane and Bill’s unwavering support of Caramoor’s mission.
Stephen Limpe
It is a privilege to celebrate Kelli’s incredible artistry and the Donaldson’s steadfast devotion, which have shaped Caramoor into the vibrant cultural sanctuary it is today.
Thank you for allowing Ned Kelly & Co. to be a part of Caramoor’s special celebrations for so many wonderful, unforgettable years. I extend my deepest gratitude for being able to contribute to this special home to music and the arts.
With warmest congratulations and heartfelt thanks,
Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly & Co.
Congratulations to Jane Donaldson for this honor and to both Jane and Bill for helping to bring Caramoor to this exciting moment.
Here’s to the next chapter of music, arts, and community!
Nancy and Jon Bauer
Bada Swing!
Bada Swing! is a lounge-jazz musical comedy that reunites two deeply questionable 1960s crooners, Bobby Bingus & Tommy Linguini, for one last comeback concert. A hit at Joe’s Pub & the New York Comedy Festival, the show mixes live music, oddball storytelling & sharp humor into a strange, slightly unhinged celebration of ego, nostalgia, & showbiz past its prime. Saturday, July 11 7:30pm
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
James A. Attwood, Jr., Chairman
Paul S. Bird, Vice Chairman
Lisa Welch, Treasurer
Angela Haines, Secretary
David Barber
Jon Bauer
Dan Broden
Leonard Chazen
Bill Cordiano
Jane Donaldson
Susan W. Freund
Effie Fribourg
Barbara Winter Glauber
Maggie Grise
EMERITI TRUSTEES
Judy Evnin, Chairman Emerita
Barry J. Alperin
Jonathan M. Clark
Ian Cook
Lawrence Elow
E. Robert Goodkind
Peter Gottsegen
Sandra Joys
Peter Kend
Nancy Offit
Eileen Schwab
Richard Zinman
Floy Kaminski
Stanley Kogelman
Stephen T. Limpe
Jaimie Mayer
Richard H. O’Leary
David Pogue
Denise Saul
Eliah Z. Seton
Beth Chartoff Spector
Nina Stanton
Deborah F. Stiles
Alden L. Toevs
Seymour Weingarten
Ian M. Winchester
PHILANTHROPY AND SPECIAL EVENTS COMMITTEE
David Barber, Co-Chair
Susan W. Freund, Co-Chair
James A. Attwood, Jr.
Jon Bauer
Judy Evnin
Effie Fribourg
Maureen Hanagan
Richard H. O’Leary
Eliah Z. Seton
Fay Walsh
Lisa Welch
Thank you for making tonight a special start to our 81st Summer Season.
Your generosity makes it possible for Caramoor to present world-class performances, nurture the next generation of artists, and preserve this historic home for all to experience and enjoy.
