November 20, 2025

130 guests attended MSM’s second biennial Precollege Gala on Saturday evening, November 15, at MSM, celebrating the School’s superb pre-conservatory Saturday program for students ages 8 to 18.

A Special Evening Held in the Ades Performance Space

The gala honored two distinguished Precollege alumni: Dr. Han Jo Kim (PC ’98), a renowned spine surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery, who serves on the MSM Board of Trustees, and Metropolitan Opera artist Isabel Leonard (PC ’98, HonDMA ’21). The two received the MSM Janet Daniels Schenck Founder’s Award in recognition of their career achievements and dedication to music education.

In the featured top photo, MSM Precollege student Winter Donnelly performed for the audience along with several other Precollege students.

Testimonials and Performances

Several Precollege alumni gave testimonials, including pianist and composer Chloe Flower (PC ’00), who was the first to receive the MSM Founder’s Award in 2023; concert pianist and recording artist Simone Dinnerstein (PC ’89); and, appearing via video, songwriter Robert Lopez (PC ’93), who is a double EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) winner and the composer of such Broadway hits as Frozen, Avenue Q, and The Book of Mormon.

The gala began with cocktails in the official residence of MSM President James Gandre and was followed by a seated dinner and performances from current Precollege students in the Ades Performance Space.

Special Guests and Performers

The event was hosted by Elaine Quijano, a correspondent and anchor at CBS News; the student performers were violinist Isaiah Shin, pianist Christopher Ramos, and sopranos Isabella Moon and Winter Donnelly.

VIP guests included Barbara Corcoran, a judge on the hit TV show Shark Tank; chocolatier Maribel Lieberman; and trustees and Precollege parents Kishore Ballal and Yvonne Tsao.