Carnegie Hall

We all know there’s no place like home. That’s why we’re asking you to help bring Judy Garland’s iconic jacket back to Carnegie Hall!     On the night of her historic debut in 1961, Judy donned a sequined jacket made especially for her by renowned fashion designer Norman Norell. She often referred to this piece as her “lucky” jacket, and rightfully so.     Your gift will support the ongoing preservation of this important item as well as Carnegie Hall’s ability to put it on permanent display for all to enjoy. Learn more and donate by June 30 to be a part of this special homecoming: https://lnkd.in/enb9C9aS 

Congratulations to Ayanna M. Cole, our director of social impact programs, on being named one of Musical America Worldwide’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year! Learn more about her career and work at Carnegie Hall below and in the full report from Musical America: bit.ly/4jYX3Nu    Ayanna Cole describes her path to Carnegie Hall as “winding.” Maybe so—but every step along the way informed her role as the venerable institution’s director of social impact programs. A Long Island native, Cole started her career producing Daytime Emmy–winning programs for A&E Television Networks, including the History Channel. But for all her years in television, she rarely saw anyone else who looked like her in the field.     “If I can accomplish this after a lot of hard work, why aren’t there more women? Why aren’t they more people of color?” Cole wondered. After leaving the History Channel, Cole founded Life Light Street Productions (LLSP), a nonprofit that introduces teenagers to the media production field. She launched it after successfully applying for a NeON Arts grant, a program previously co-hosted by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute and the New York City Department of Probation. Two years later, in 2016, Carnegie Hall sought to hire a new NeON Arts manager; unbeknownst to her, Cole had been put forward for the job.     She has by now been at Carnegie Hall for nearly nine years, working on several different initiatives. The newest among them, The B-Side, is not unlike the work she did with LLSP a decade ago: The program introduces young people, ages 14 to 22, to various career options in the music industry. Cole adds that her most transformative experiences on the job tend to be the ones where she’s learning, too—like a panel she co-hosted earlier this year on drill, a rap subgenre that’s as popular as it is subversive.     “The kneejerk reaction was, ‘This music is challenging; there are some themes in the music that we don’t think are safe or healthy for young people.’ But this music is really important to a lot of the young people we’re serving. And if it’s a musical and artistic approach that’s important to them, we need to understand it,” Cole says.     —Hannah Edgar 

Expect the extraordinary when it comes to our 2025–2026 season! Another year of Carnegie Hall concerts has been announced—what are you looking forward to hearing most? Explore the calendar and our curated series (now available for purchase) at https://lnkd.in/eGagGP8E.  

This Black History Month, Power Network returns to Carnegie Hall! Don’t miss this groundbreaking conversation, celebration, and concert—now in its third year—that combines world-class entertainment with invaluable financial insight from business and economic innovators on February 27. Tickets: bit.ly/404JNyQ   

Happy New Year, from all of us at Carnegie Hall! We’re wishing you a year filled with music, inspiration, and unforgettable moments. 📷: Fadi Kheir 

Just announced: Power Network returns to Carnegie Hall this February! Join us for a groundbreaking Black History Month celebration that combines world-class entertainment with invaluable financial insight from business and economic innovators. ⁠ ⁠ Hear musical performances by Rakim, one of Billboard’s “10 Greatest Rappers of All Time,” with Igmar Thomas’ 32-piece Revive Big Band and DJ Spinderella (Salt-N-Pepa). Join industry leaders for conversations with LVMH CEO Anish Melwani, and Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of Earn Your Leisure, with host Ed Lover. Tickets are now available: https://lnkd.in/dc4gFtYR.

Wishing you a very happy holiday season and an inspiring year of music ahead, from all of us at Carnegie Hall! 

At Carnegie Hall, we deeply value the contributions of music educators who inspire, teach, and shape the next generation of musicians. Your passion and dedication leave a lasting impact, and we’re honored to support you through the Weill Music Institute with programs, training, and resources. We’re thrilled to bring you stories from our staff about the music teachers who have made a difference in their own lives. And thanks to the generosity of our donors, we want to continue this work. Make a gift by December 31, and your donation will be doubled to help us support even more educators: bit.ly/3ZmZobx   

Getting a team photo is a must when Ivy Queen shows up at your office.🤩 The Queen of Reggaeton takes to our largest stage tonight for her Carnegie Hall debut!

Congratulations to Anna Weber, Carnegie Hall’s general manager of artistic and operations, for her feature in The Inside Press, Inc.! The driving behind-the-scenes force at the Hall, Weber is responsible for making sure every show goes off without a hitch and helps to create the magical experiences we aim to provide our audiences.