By: Magda Katz

April 30, 2019: Lena Hall and Ingrid Michaelson joined  guest artists from across the recording industry and the Broadway community on the stage of Carnegie Hall  to pay tribute to their friend and inspiration Cyndi Lauper . Performing Lauper’s hits were: Boy George, Estelle, Bridget Everett, Nona Hendryx, Carly Rae Jepsen, Alex Newell, Stark Sands and Elaine Caswell.

Co-chairs for the event included Lisa Barbaris (So What Management), Tina Fey (writer, actress and producer), Billie Jean King (sports icon and social justice pioneer), Jeff Sagansky (Platinum Eagle), and David Zaslav (Discovery). 

The concert led by Stephen Reineke also featured twenty participants from The New York Pops’ Kids on Stage program. The Kids on Stage program provides middle school students access to the professional performance process through an audition process, comprehensive rehearsal period, and performance with the orchestra on the Carnegie Hall stage at the Gala concert. 

Proceeds from the Gala support the orchestra and the organization’s PopsEd music education programs. The concert was  followed by a black tie dinner and dance at the Mandarin Oriental New York.