Photo Coverage: New York Pops Gala

Tuesday, May 1, 2007; Posted: 02:05 PM - by Mark Rupp

Stars�from popular music, Broadway, film and television took the Carnegie Hall stage with The New York Pops in support of the orchestra and its education programs and free Summermusic concerts on Monday, April 30, 2007 at 7:00PM. The 24th Birthday Gala, entitled Musical Fireworks, honored Macy's and orchestra patrons Paula and Tom McInerney, and feature a tribute to Neil Sedaka on the 50th anniversary of his start in show business.

Hosting the gala concert�were nationally syndicated columnist Liz Smith and actor/comedian Denis Leary. NBC's "Today Show"�co-host�Meredith Vieira made herCarnegie Hall conducting debut leading The New York Pops in "The Stars and Stripes Forever" before introducing James E. Gray, President and COO of Macy's East. The rest of the concert wasconducted by the London-based American conductor David Charles Abell in his Carnegie Hall debut. He led the premiere of a new song composed to accompany the 2007 Macy's 4th of July Fireworks telecast on NBC: "In Our Children's Eyes" by Stephen Flaherty and William Schermerhorn.

Guest artists on the gala concert include the Tony-nominated star of Movin' Out, singer and pianist Michael Cavanaugh, in his Carnegie Hall debut. He opened the concert with a new arrangement of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind." A hit in "American Idol"'s third season and in Broadway's Hairspray, Diana DeGarmo made her Carnegie Hall bow with the Neil Sedaka hit "Breaking Up is Hard To Do."� Five-time Grammy winner and contemporary Christian music star Sandi Patty honored our nation with "God Bless America."��

A Tony winner for her role in Caroline, or Change who was most recently seen in the film adaptation of Dreamgirls, Anika Noni Rose made her Carnegie Hall debut singing "In Our Children's Eyes."� Another Tony winner, Lea Salonga - who won for Miss Saigon and is currently starring on Broadway as Fantine in Les Miserables - also joined the gala celebration. A third Tony winner rounded out the list of guest artists appearing: John Lloyd Young, star of Broadway's Jersey Boys, joined the Young People's Chorus of New York City under the direction of Francisco Nunez in an new version of "What A Wonderful World."� In addition, Abell conducted the premiere of an overture for a new musical with songs composed by Michael Feinstein and lyrics by Mr. Schermerhorn called The Night They Saved the Macy's Parade.