As the founder of Untapped New York, I have had the privilege of going into some of New York City’s most spectacular places, meeting fascinating creators and shapers of the city, and attending show-stopping events. In recent years, as the event space has become more and more commercialized in the city, I preserve the rare free time I have (after two kids!) more for intimate yet exciting events. Top on that list are the private concerts (and Carnegie Hall showcases) by The Knights, an orchestra and chamber music ensemble whose aim is the “elimination of barriers between audience and music,” Whether you are listening to musicians like Chris Thiel from Nickel Creek in someone’s Brooklyn townhouse, a small group of The Knights performing in a Chelsea loft, or the whole orchestra performing at Carnegie Hall with jazz pianist Aaron Diehl or Emmanuel Ax at Tanglewood, they talk to you directly with humor and great passion to explain what’s being performed. The energy and camaraderie of the group are palpable in their communication and their performance.
Photo courtesy The Knights
The origin story of The Knights began in New York in the early 1990s, when then teenagers Eric and Colin Jacobsen, now the artistic directors of the group, would host chamber music parties in their homes. Eric and Colin’s dad was the concertmaster of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and would also be at these parties, predominantly making sure everyone had a great time. Those musical gatherings from my early teens were part of the inspiration for my candlelight music and literary salon, The Lit Salon.
On October 7, The Knights host their annual gala inside the incredible National Arts Club. If you have not been inside this Gramercy Park club yet, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so. The National Arts Club is housed in the former Samuel Tilden Mansion. Tilden was the 25th Governor of New York and had access to the best architects and designers of the era. He hired names like Calvert Vaux, of Central Park fame, and John LaFarge to transform and combine two simpler brownstones into the more opulent place you see today. Vaux took the original facade, reclad it in sandstone, and added bay windows and floral ornamentation. LaFarge added stained glass windows inside and Donald McDonald created an impressive stained glass dome. The building is both a city and federal landmark.
The gala programming includes a cocktail hour, a sit-down dinner, a silent auction with some spectacular prizes, a 30-40 minute concert by The Knights, and dessert. All guests will receive gift bags and Knights recordings. Tickets can be purchased here and you can check out the full concert schedule of The Knights!
Michelle is the founder of Untapped New York and the author of The Art Spy (HarperOne, forthcoming) Secret Brooklyn, Secret New York Hidden Bars & Restaurants, and Broadway. michelleyoungwriter.com
