Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is one of the most prestigious music homes in the world. It played an important role in the history of New York, creating one of the world’s greatest cultural center.
The Hall was built thanks to the philanthropy of the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. At the age of 33, in his letter of intent, he wrote, “make no effort to increase fortune, but spend the surplus each year for benevolent purposes… especially those connected with education and improvement of poorer classes”. Since then, he started to give his money with the same energy as he had when he was earning the money. By 1884 he gave money to build public baths, libraries, and to build the first medical research center in the US.
Why Music Hall
Andrew Carnegie got married very late in life, at the age of 52. When he and his new wife Louise Whitfield went on their honeymoon to England, they met conductor of the New York Symphony and the Oratorio Societies Walter Damrosch, who was on the same ship Fulda on his way to study in Germany. The couple knew the conductor – Louise sang with the Oratorio Society of New York and Andrew was on the board of both societies. During their trip, Andrew and Walter discussed the possibilities of the new home for these two organizations.
At that time, in 1887, New York already had Metropolitan Opera, Academy of Music, many theaters, and every piano company had their hall, and instead of building a hall for another organization, Andrew Carnegie decided to build a hall for the city of New York, giving his largest contribution of the time, an equivalent of twenty-three million dollars today. Mr. Carnegie wanted local governmental and other contributors to also give money, so his good deeds would become a communal intention of achieving constant results even after he is gone. It did not happen right away, and only about 70 years later Carnegie’s wish came true, when the city of New York purchased the Hall and formed a non-profit organization, which is funded today by the city, state, business, and private donations.
Carnegie Hall was open in May of 1891 with a five-day festival, featuring P. I. Tchaikovsky, who was conducting his own music, and Walter Damrosch, conducting the New York Symphony and Oratorio Society. After this festival, all the best musicians of every genre were performing in the now world-renowned concert hall.
The Hall originally had the name “Music Hall founded by Andrew Carnegie”, as it was the name of the company managing the construction of the building. This name is still written on the facade of the building. In 1894 the Music Hall was given the name Carnegie Hall in honor of its benefactor. In the letter to Frederick Hall, the secretary of the Music Hall company, Andrew Carnegie wrote, “The Directors have not only gratified me very much by their kindness, but they have deeply gratified my wife, who has the cause of music, and of its future home, very much at heart.”
Music-Fest first presented the opportunity to perform on the stage of the world-class stage of Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall in 2008. Since then, Music-Fest organizes its annual Rising Talents Festival, where talented young musicians can take part in the audition process and have a chance to win the prestigious Grand Prix award and perform on the stage of Carnegie Hall. Every year students have impressed the audience with the outstanding performances demonstrated during the Grand Prix Winners’ Recitals in the Weill Recital Hall. Among performers are pianists, string and wind players, chamber groups, and singers, as the Rising Talents Festival is open to performers on all instruments, and music of all genres. Music-Fest has showcased musicians from all over the United States and has included international performers from China, Slovenia, Norway, Germany, and Russia. Participants of the festival are not famous musicians, some are as young as five-year-old, these children are clearly prodigies. The largest groups are gifted teenagers and young adults who accomplished their musicianship through years of musical practice. Families come year after year to offer their children support, they encourage kids to be in the center of the wonderful world of beautiful music.
We at Music-Fest hope, that these performances will inspire young musicians in their future music studies and accompany their love of music. We are proud to offer the opportunity for students to display their talent on this famous stage.