The Young Concert Artists of Washington celebrated its 46th season with an elegant gala benefit honoring long-time Palm Beacher Aniko Gaal Schott at the residence of the Ambassador of Turkey, HE Sedat Onal and Mrs Figen Onal. The evening’s chairman, Shahin Mafi, welcomed more than 150 guests and also gave a tribute to Dr. Milton Corn, an avid supporter of YCA. Notable guests included former U.S. Chief of Protocol Selwa “Lucky” Roosevelt, Ambassadors from Brazil, Japan, Egypt and Hungary, a former First Lady of Bolivia, and Palm Beachers including The Hon. Stuart Bernstein, The Hon. Bernie Carl,  The Hon. Frank Dunlevy, The Hon. Mary Mochary, Dr. Mary Francis and William Walde, Grace Bender, Michael Buxton, and Gilan Tocco Corn.

Aniko Gaal Schott with Daniel Kellogg, President & CEO of the Young Concert Artists and Gilan Tocco Corn.

Schott, an interior designer who has decorated more than 12 embassies in Washington, D.C. — including the 60,000 sf Turkish embassy in 2007 — was honored for her more than 25 years of service to the organization.

The evening featured Risa Hikomura playing a 1715 Stradivarius violin and others performing Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 49 by Felix Mendelssohn. More than $200,000 was raised to support the Young Concert Artists’ mission to discover and launch the careers of extraordinarily talented young musicians from all over the world.

Ambassador Stuart Bernstein, Nash W. Schott, William Walde and Dr. Mary Francis Walde.

Dr. Eric Motley and Jane Cafritz.

Michael Buxton, Alexandra de Borchgrave, and JoAnn Mason.

Ambassador Sedat Onal and Mrs Figen Onal.

Guest Pianist Albert Cano Smit with YCA’s Aristo Sham, Benett Tsai and Risa Hokamura.