CMS Spring Gala

Tuesday, MAY 19, 2026

ALICE TULLY HALL 
Broadway & West 65th Street

HONORING

Samuel Zygmuntowicz

GALA CO-CHAIRS

Linda S. Daines

Ann Kempner

Vice CHAIRS

Judy and Tony Evnin

David Finckel and Wu Han

Judi Sorensen Flom

Robert Hoglund

James and Melissa O’Shaughnessy

Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach

About the Gala

The CMS Gala provides essential support for all our performances as well as educational initiatives and activities locally, nationally, internationally, and digitally. The evening includes a cocktail reception, a chamber music performance with a cast of extraordinary musicians, and a fun and festive seated dinner with the artists to follow.

About the Honoree: Samuel Zygmuntowicz

From the birth of the violin in the hands of the Amati family in the mid-1500s, the instrument evolved steadily, culminating in the “golden period” of Antonio Stradivari in the early 18th century. It is astonishing to realize that, at this very moment, we have entered the second golden period of violin making, which, by all accounts, is led by the work of one maker: Samuel Zygmuntowicz. David Finckel, Co-Artistic Director, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center

Samuel Zygmuntowicz is widely regarded as one of the greatest violin makers of all time. After early training as a sculptor, he began his instrument-making studies at age 13, later working on the craft and instrument restoration with Carl Becker and René Morel. Since 1985, he has worked in Brooklyn, New York, making new instruments by commission for renowned performers such as Cho-Liang Lin, Joshua Bell, Maxim Vengerov, Leila Josefowicz, and members of the Emerson and Orion String Quartets. CMS Co-Artistic Director David Finckel, a former member of the Emerson String Quartet, was one of his early champions, and he now owns two Zygmuntowicz cellos. Many artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center are now among his clients, including Chad Hoopes, Bella Hristova, Richard Lin, Matthew Lipman, and James Thompson, who will all be performing on the CMS Spring Gala program.

Sam’s early work showed deep expertise as a copyist of classic instruments. Increasingly he includes personal designs informed by his active collaborations with performers and remains involved in the ongoing optimization of their instruments.

In addition to his extensive studies of traditional violin making, he has worked closely with acoustic researchers and often teaches at both the Violin Making and Violin Acoustics Workshops at Oberlin College. His protégés include a number of fine independent violin makers. He was involved with the first 3D laser vibration studies of Stradivari and Guarneri violins, and is Creative Director of Strad3D.org. He regularly shares his findings at conferences, museums, and chamber music venues.

A 1984 violin he made for Isaac Stern holds the auction record for an instrument by a living maker. His work is documented in The Violin Maker, a book that follows the process of building a new violin for Eugene Drucker of the Emerson String Quartet. He is also an active fiddler, performing with folk music groups.