New York Public Radio Gala 2021
Empire was pleased to help produce the 2021 New York Public Radio Gala hosted in-person at The Plaza Hotel on November 16th, continuing a partnership in a series of events for the public radio service.
The gala invited supporters of NYPR to gather for the first time since 2019 for an exciting evening packed with entertainment and good company, to celebrate 20 years of Radiolab. Starting with a cocktail reception in the Terrace Room, guests were then led to the dinner in the ballroom by the High and Mighty Brass Band, kicking off the program with high energy performances.
This year’s program featured actress Julianna Marguiles as Gala Host, with remarks by Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO and President, NYPR; Timothy A. Wilkins, Board Chair, NYPR; Ed Yim, Chief Content Officer and SVP, WQXR; and Jad Abumrad, Creator and Host, Radiolab, and musical performances by Kishi Bashi and WQXR’s Artist Propulsion Lab Artists and Special Guests.
2 awards were presented, celebrating Radiolab’s past and present. Ira Glass, Creator and Host, This American Life presented an award to Robert Krulwich, Retired Host, Radiolab; and Suzie Lechtenberg, Executive Producer, Radiolab and Soren Wheeler, Executive Editor, Radiolab presented an award to Jad Abumrad, Lulu Miller, and Latif Nasser, Hosts, Radiolab.
In addition to the in-person guest experience, the main program was live streamed to a remote audience tuning in from their homes. Overall, NYPR raised over $1.1M towards supporting the organization’s vital work delivering local news to the greater area of New York and New Jersey.
Empire’s scope of work included development of the program run of show, technical production management, creative design of the live stream screen graphics and micro-site, and production and editing of 3 feature videos plus post-gala video assets including a gala sizzle reel.
Empire is a leading producer of events including fundraising galas, experiential marketing engagements, corporate conferences, festivals, concerts, and more.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
