Lunar New Year Celebration Gala
Sat, Jan 25, 2020
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
One Center Street, Newark, NJ
Gala Hosts
Ann Borowiec and Norman Slonaker, Co-Chairs of the Board
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees
Gabriel van Aalst, President & CEO
The Ruth C. and A. Michael Lipper NJSO President & CEO Chair
Event Co-Chairs
Margaret Lam & David Yen
Shau-wai & Marie Lam
Event Committee
Wendy Yun Chen
Ruth Jin
Gregory Khost
Eva Lerner-Lam
Ruth C. Lipper
Yin Long
Elin Mueller
Philip Neches
Soyeon Park
Rebecca Shen & Dennis Chu
Scott Shi
Stephen Sichak Jr.
Cecilia Sweeney
Kirby Tan
Ming Yang
Shirley Young
Ray Zeng
Xin Zhao
In loving memory of Josephine Ho, who dedicated her life to the community with kindness and compassion.
February 5, 1953–November 22, 2019
Event Recap
On January 25, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra held its Lunar New Year Celebration Gala. More than 1,500 concertgoers and 200 dinner guests celebrated the Year of the Rat! Attendees enjoyed a pre-concert festival with crafters and a variety of musical performances, held under the festive Lunar New Year décor and vibrant lights in the extraordinary Prudential Hall lobby of NJPAC.
Immediately following the concert, gala guests enjoyed an elegant dinner in the Chase Room with lush floral rock garden centerpieces. The evening’s dinner attendees were treated to a musical performance by Ma Lang playing the Zheng, a traditional Chinese string instrument. Lang performed a Chinese classical piece called Autumn Night Thoughts, which was a beautiful and captivating selection.
The NJSO would like to thank all of those who attended and supported the Lunar New Year Celebration Gala. Their contributions have been essential to the success of this fine performing organization, and are we are grateful to have raised a significant amount from the event, which contributes to the NJSO community and education programs throughout New Jersey.
This concert and celebration were generously sponsored in part by an anonymous donor in honor of Music Director Xian Zhang.
Thank you to the following donors, whose very generous support has made the NJSO’s celebration possible.
Champion Sponsor
Margaret Lam & David Yen
Silver Sponsors
Ruth & Michael Lipper
Bronze Sponsors
Gregory & Jacqueline Khost
Elin H. Mueller
Dr. Philip & Ellen Neches
Lacquer Supporters
Yin Long & Andrew Pu
PNC Bank
Scott Shi & Qiong Chen
Norman Slonaker
Cecilia Sweeney
Diane Young & Phil Crowley
Shirley Young
Event Supporters
Audrey Bartner
Ann & Stanley Borowiec
Donald Brief & Dottie Litwin Brief
Linda Bowden
CCS Fundraising
Thomas & Maryann Comiskey
Dr. Sue Henderson
Ruth Hutter
Jonathan & Nathalie Kaledin
Clement Lee
M&T Bank
NJCU
NJPAC
Kent & Jean Papsun
Sarah Ringer
Steve Santoro
Marcia Sass & Mark Fulcomer
Rebecca Shen, Dennis Chu
and Eastern Cultural Exchange Association
Harold & Carol Shichman
Mary Jo & Stephen Sichak Jr.
Edward & Barbara Zinbarg
Commitments as of January 25, 2020
Read program notes from the Lunar New Year Celebration concert.