On April 14, the Longy School of Music of Bard College hosted its 2025 Gala, Music Para Todos! Chucho Valdés, the legendary Afro-Cuban jazz pianist, was presented with the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society. The festive evening celebrated Longy’s dedication to making music education accessible to all through its strong scholarship program.
Jamie Bernstein, author, filmmaker, and daughter of Leonard Bernstein, presented the award to Valdés along with Longy President Karen Zorn. Nancy Peery Marriott, the 2025 Gala Honorary Chair, was also honored with an award for her continued support of Longy and the broader music community.
In her heartfelt opening remarks, President Zorn reflected on the urgency of Longy’s mission in today’s world: “At Longy, we believe that musicians can be more than performers. They can be teachers, healers, community organizers, changemakers. We believe the world needs more musicians, more artists, more than ever.”
The night featured a performance by Valdés, joined by Longy alum Juan Ruiz (UD ‘11, MM ‘13). Valdés performed some of his most well-known pieces and gave the audience a special encore—an Afro-Cuban jazz version of “Somewhere” from West Side Story in tribute to Leonard Bernstein.
All proceeds from Longy’s gala go directly to students through funding scholarships for musicians who have the potential to make a difference in the world. If you couldn’t make it but still want to support Longy’s efforts to make music more accessible for everyone, consider donating on our website.
