This past Wednesday, October 8, Jazz at Lincoln Center hosted Josh Groban’s Find Your Light benefit concert for the second year in a row. Special guests this year included Norah Jones, Ben Folds, Jordan Fisher, Terence Blanchard, Emmet Cohen, Maleah Joi Moon, Tiler Peck, and even Sesame Street’s Elmo and Ernie, among others.
Founded in 2005, the Find Your Light Foundation, originally known as the Josh Groban Foundation, was created in an effort to fund and educate the importance of arts education for children. While reflecting on the beginnings of the foundation, Groban shared how his own experience as a student shaped the foundation’s mission, stating, “The arts absolutely saved me. And the fact that I’m here tonight is a testament to those programs and those teachers.”
Wednesday night’s benefit began with a cocktail hour where guests were able to drink, eat, and enjoy musical accompaniment performed by the New Jersey Youth Symphony string quartet before making their way to their seats for the show.
The show began promptly at 8 pm, where Groban opened the show by performing his song “Be Alright” alongside the Find Your Light Children’s Choir. He also shared a video featuring interviews with students explaining the importance of the arts in their lives.
The first of many special guests to appear was Broadway’s Jordan Fisher, known for his roles in Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Hadestown, and Sweeney Todd, where he and Groban shared the stage. Fisher performed “Wait For It” from Hamilton, much to the audience’s delight.
The Find Your Light Award was presented to Sesame Street for its outstanding work in arts education for numerous decades. Renée Fleming joined Groban on stage to present the Arts for Healing Award to Ivy Ross and Susan Magsmen for their co-authored book, Your Brain On Art. Together, they also led the audience in a brief sing-along of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” to describe how the brain engages and connects through the shared experience of singing.
Amongst the huge line-up of guests was Find Your Light grantee, Carmelo Rios, who joined Groban for a heartfelt duet of “Rainbow Connection” to a well-deserved standing ovation from the audience.
A portion of the evening featured a live auction, allowing guests to bid on items in support of the foundation. Among the highlights were tickets to see and meet Lamar Odom Jr in Broadway’s Hamilton, and tickets to see and meet Groban during his residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. By the end of the night, the event had raised a record-breaking $1.5 million to support arts education.
Ten-time Grammy Award winner Norah Jones also performed her classic “Come Away With Me” with an interesting new arrangement, accompanied by herself on piano. The stripped-down, intimate performance was a beautiful rendition of the song, set against the stunning backdrop of Central Park and the city skyline. She was then joined by Groban for a duet of “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
The last guests of the evening were Elmo and Ernie of Sesame Street. Although it was no surprise, there was an audible gasp of excitement from the crowd when the two appeared. They joined Groban in performances of “Sing After Me” and “I’d Like To Visit The Moon.”
To conclude the show, Groban and the Find Your Light Children’s Choir performed Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. A beautiful way to end a night full of many highlights. For more information and ways to donate, visit fylf.org.
