New World Symphony (NWS) held its annual gala in honor of its Co-Founder and Artistic Director Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) at the New World Center.

As part of NWS’s 35^th Anniversary Season, the gala included a celebratory concert that paid tribute to MTT and featured NWS’s new Artistic Director Stéphane Denève. Following a jazz trio accompaniment of a photo slideshow highlighting MTT’s illustrious life and career, Denève led the full orchestra in a surprise performance of MTT’s own work, Agnegram.

Special guest Yo-Yo Ma took the stage to perform Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 alongside NWS Cello Fellows, before performing Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme with the full orchestra. Both works were led by Ma’s longtime friend and colleague MTT.

Gala chairs Mary and Howard S. Frank hosted a seated dinner by Thierry Isambert Culinary & Event Design across the New World Center’s stunning architectural spaces, including its Rooftop Garden overlooking both Miami and Miami Beach skylines.

Guests enjoyed a curated display of MTT memorabilia from NWS’s archives and MTT’s personal collection, including a musical score signed by Audrey Hepburn from her 1989 performance with NWS, jacket signed by the inaugural class of NWS Fellows in 1987, MTT’s backstage director’s chair, personal batons and more.

Sponsors for the event include Miami Cancer Institute of Baptist Health South Florida, Total Wine & More, Power Collective and Modern Luxury Media. Proceeds benefit NWS’s mission to prepare young musicians for leadership roles in symphonic music.