I am a sucker for anything that benefits kids that just don’t have the resources that some of us are able to give our own. Kids and Celebrities… what a great mix of characters at ETM’s (Education Through Music) annual Gala at Pier 60 in NYC earlier this month.
A dear client asked if I would lend my time and talent (that was her wording:) to an organization that brings music into the schools in neighborhoods that wouldn’t ordinarily have this option. She put me in touch with the Co-Chair of ETM’s annual event, Heather Hanssen, and of course I had to say yes. It didn’t hurt to know they were honoring Dante DiLoreto, the producer of Glee, who is a huge supporter of ETM and not only would he be there but some of the cast members of this fabulously original show would be there as well.
What I didn’t realize was they would give me so much freedom to shoot the kids performing and the celebrities enjoying them. Jane Lynch was a “Doll”… no Sue Sylvester in her. She was gracious and easy to approach, always looking stunning. Jenna Ushkowitz was hanging with Darren Criss and Chord Overstreet… They made a great threesome! But honestly I was more thrilled to photograph Dr. Mark Green (Anthony Edwards) who was one of my all time favorite Dr.’s on ER.
They raised tons of $ for ETM with a silent and a very lively, live auction hosted by Christies. Dana Walden, chairman of Twentieth Century Fox, kept throwing in more surprises during the live auction and some very lucky recipients got to go to the after party of American Idol as well as VIP treatment on the set of Glee. The evening ended with an awesome rendition of Yankee Doodle Dandee by the world renown and totally handsome Violinist, Joshua Bell.
Most of the kids had never performed in front of an audience and some of them had just started their musical careers a short while ago with the support of Education through Music.
They were the real stars!
