As the lights of David Geffen Hall glimmered against the early November skyline, New York’s cultural cognoscenti gathered to honor Bayo Ogunlesi, co-founder of Global Infrastructure Partners, at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ Fall Gala. The evening, hosted by the perpetually frizzante Tituss Burgess—whose Broadway and screen presence has made him a celebrated figure in modern culture—was at once a celebration of achievement and a testament to the enduring power of the arts in civic life.

Guests moved gracefully through the iconic campus, past the hallowed halls that house the New York Philharmonic, Juilliard, and the Metropolitan Opera, soaking in the grandeur of one of the world’s most influential artistic institutions. Between courses, sips of fine wine, and carefully curated conversations, the evening became its very own symphony: its crescendo marked by the recognition of Ogunlesi’s philanthropic vision and steadfast support of Lincoln Center’s mission.

The roster of attendees read like a cross-section of New York’s most influential figures in art, music, gastronomy, and public life: from vocalist Nona Hendryx and celebrity chef Kwame Onwuachi to philanthropists Nanar and Tony Yoseloff, to cultural policymakers including Gale Brewer and Laurie Cumbo. Each presence underscored the gala’s central ethos: that the arts are a vehicle through which communities are connected, imaginations are expanded, and society is elevated.

Here, in the glow of Geffen Hall, after raising over $6.7 million in support of Lincoln Center’s free and Choose-What-You-Pay programs, the capacity of art to unite, challenge, and uplift was palpable. After raising When creativity is championed and access is granted, the city itself seems to breathe differently—its streets and stages alive with possibility. By honoring visionaries like Ogunlesi, the gala reminded all who attended that art is not simply for witnessing; it is a shared language, a spark that ignites both imagination and collective purpose. And in that space, for a moment, the future of culture felt not only protected—but boundless.

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