The Harmony Program, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding access to music education for youth across the five boroughs of the city, presented its annual gala on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Sony Hall.
The evening brought together leaders across music, media and philanthropy to celebrate a year of impact and continued growth across New York City.
Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud, was recognized as the 2026 Corporate Honoree. A longtime advocate for music education and member of the Harmony Program’s Board of Directors, Seton has spent over a decade supporting the organization’s mission to expand access and opportunity for young musicians. “Harmony provides access to those who would not otherwise have it, and in doing so, it can help shape the next generation of artists, fans and leaders. It’s on all of us across music to help expand that access. At SoundCloud, we believe deeply in creating pathways for artists to be heard and build their careers, and that starts with investing in the communities where creativity begins,” stated Eliah.
Alongside the Corporate Honoree, the 2026 gala honored Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning actor, singer and producer Ben Platt as Artistic Honoree, recognizing his contributions to the arts and commitment to creative expression.
The evening was hosted by Adriana Diaz, Co-Host of CBS Saturday Morning and a Harmony Program Board member and proud New York City public school graduate. Prior honorees have included Josh Groban, Joyce DiDonato and Wynton Marsalis, among others.
“I’ve seen firsthand how transformative music education can be for young people, not just artistically, but in how they see themselves and what they believe is possible. The Harmony Program is doing that work every day, creating space for students to express themselves, build confidence, and find their voices. It’s incredibly meaningful to be part of an organization that is not only nurturing talent, but building real community,” stated Ben.
2026 has seen the expansion of the Harmony Program’s services, with the establishment of a year-round continuum of musical training, including community-based instruction, an annual summer camp held at The Juilliard School and a growing network of choirs and orchestras that collectively reach over 1200 students across all five boroughs.
Students are performing on some of the world’s most renowned stages this year, from Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theatre to David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center and participating in master classes with musicians of the GRAMMY Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, longstanding partners of the organization.
Proceeds from the 2026 Gala support the Harmony Program’s ongoing efforts to bring high-quality music education to underserved communities across New York City.
For more information, please visit HarmonyProgram.org.
