It was a delightful and crisp fall day when generous supporters, young musicians, and community leaders came together at the historic Davenport Mansion in New Rochelle for our annual Songcatchers Brunch Gala on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
The event was filled with heartwarming moments, “Community Music Pop-Up Performances,” and a shared celebration of our community’s commitment to making high-quality music education accessible to every child. Guests were treated to beautiful musical interludes by David, Zoe, Isabella, and Songcatchers’ 11-piece orchestra with Ariana Barros conducting. It set such a joyful and uplifting tone for the afternoon.
Board President Karenann Carty served as our wonderful master of ceremonies, beaming with pride during every student performance and as she introduced our distinguished 2026 award honorees:
- Peace Through Music Leadership Award: Francisco J. Núñez (Founder & Artistic Director, Young People’s Chorus of New York City)
- The Legacy of Board Service Award: Frank Di Marco, Esq.
- The Music Mentor Award: Janice Nimetz, Ph.D.
- The Bridges in Harmony Award: Clemencia Castaneda, M.M.
- The Young Artist and Sr. Beth Spirit Award: Ariana Barrios
Each honoree wowed guests with personal stories of how music shaped their lives and shared fond memories of Songcatchers’ beloved Founder, Sr. Beth Dowd, OSU (1936—2020). The program opened with a blessing from Sister Pat Schifini, OSU, of the same Ursuline Sisters Order as Sr. Beth.
We were also honored to be joined by New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert, who highlighted the heart of our mission: “Music is one thing that families can be priced out of, which makes Songcatchers’ affordable non-profit school so important because children need to find the thing that will be their thing.”
Looking Ahead
Events like our Brunch Gala—often affectionately called “friendraisers”—bring our community together to strengthen the funding needed to keep our after-school program, early childhood classes, choir, and orchestra thriving.
Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, and donated to make this year’s gala an unforgettable milestone. Your support ensures that Songcatchers can continue providing a welcoming community where local children can build confidence, joy, and a lifelong love of music.
Want to support our young musicians? Click here to make a donation or visit our Get Involved page to learn about volunteering!
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