Victoria in the Park
1700 S Elmhurst Rd, Mount Prospect, IL 60056

Thank you for joining us for an evening of extraordinary performances, celebration, and community.

Proceeds from this event and our digital auction support our ongoing work of offering world-class music education to hundreds of students, including scholarships to remove financial barriers and ensure inclusion in our programs for all interested students. Together, we help young musicians shine— through scholarships, coaching, and transformative music education.

2026 HONOREES:

Golden Baton Award: Hans Jørgen Jensen

We are thrilled to honor Hans Jørgen Jensen with this year’s Golden Baton Award at the MYAC Gala. A revered pedagogue and longtime professor of cello at Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, Mr. Jensen has shaped generations of young musicians through his extraordinary teaching and mentorship. His students populate major orchestras around the world and hold leading teaching positions—many of them having passed through MYAC along the way.

An internationally respected artist and master teacher, Mr. Jensen embodies the values at the heart of MYAC: excellence, generosity, and lifelong dedication to young artists. We are deeply honored to celebrate his profound impact on our community and beyond.

Learn more about him here.

A smiling man in a suit holding a cello and a bow.

Take Note Award:

Eric Falberg, Will Tippens, J Schneider

In honor of their work on the MYAC Symphony Center proposal which was successfully approved by the City of Highwood.

Portrait of three smiling men, wearing casual and business attire, against a dark background.

Support the Gala

Donate now! All contributions support our students.

Every contribution helps MYAC provide scholarships, master classes, and transformative musical education for nearly 1,000 young musicians each year. Thank you for being part of this celebration!