Salon No. 12: Mancini, Ysaÿe, Duke, Lecuona

Salon Aux Chandelles is New York’s most exclusive and sophisticated concert series in New York City, uniting world-class performances with the city’s refined cultural elegance. Hosted at the historic 3 West Club, each salon unfolds in an intimate, candlelit ambiance — a modern New York homage to the timeless grandeur of European artistic salons.

Opening the 2025–26 season on November 15, Salon Aux Chandelles unveils an evening of exquisite artistry — where world-class performances, elegant ambiance, and the glow of candlelight converge to evoke the timeless spirit of European salons reimagined for modern New York.

Beyond the performance, the salon cultivates authentic connections among guests from the worlds of fashion, finance, music, and the arts. Following the concert, attendees gather over refined refreshments, engaging in meaningful dialogue that prolongs the evening’s allure. *Photography and interviews will be conducted throughout the event, capturing its atmosphere and distinguished guests.

More than a concert, Salon Aux Chandelles stands as a celebration of art, culture, and sophistication — an unforgettable experience that transcends the ordinary.

We invite guests to dress in cocktail attire or creative black tie, embracing the spirit of elegance that defines our salon experience.

**Program:

• Eugène Ysaÿe - Sonata No. 5 for violin solo: L'Aurore

Performers:
Julia Jones, violin

• Joseph Kosma - Autumn Leaves (4')

Performers:
Chenxi Pan, soprano
George Grydkovets, guitar
Aidan McCarthy, bass

• Brooks Bowman - East of the Sun (and West of the Moon) (6')

Performers:
Chenxi Pan, soprano
George Grydkovets, guitar
Aidan McCarthy, bass

• Vernon Duke - Autumn in New York ('3)

Performers:
Chenxi Pan, soprano
George Grydkovets guitar
Aidan McCarthy, bass

• Henry Mancini - Moon River (5')

Performers:
Chenxi Pan, soprano
George Grydkovets, guitar
Aidan McCarthy, bass

• Latin American Classics, Vol. 2. (25')
• Odeon - E. Nazareth
• El Trancao - L.E. Paesano
• Bailecito- C. Guastavino
• Danza de los Ñañigos - E. Lecuona
• Mazurka en Glissando - E. Lecuona
• Intermezzo - M.Ponce
• Malagueña - E. Lecuona
• Joropo - D. Franklin

Performers:
Kristhyan Benitez, piano

Performer's biographies:

Grammy-winning pianist and composer Kristhyan Benitez captivates audiences worldwide with his dynamic artistry, seamlessly uniting classical mastery with the vibrant rhythms of Latin America. His performances radiate depth, charisma, and emotional precision, establishing him as one of the most distinctive voices of his generation.
Benitez has graced many of the world’s foremost stages — from Berlin’s Philharmonie and San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall to Alice Tully Hall in New York, Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. He has collaborated with luminaries such as Claudio Abbado, Gustavo Dudamel, and Academy Award winner Gustavo Santaolalla.
His Steinway & Sons albums — Latin American Classics (Latin Grammy Winner, 2021), Afro-Cuban Dances (Latin Grammy Nominee, 2023), and Latin American Classics, Vol. 2 — reaffirm his role as a leading interpreter and advocate of Latin American piano music. A protégé of Philippe Entremont and José Antonio Abreu, Benitez remains committed to sharing the exuberant legacy of his cultural heritage through his global performances, recordings, and collaborations.

Julia Jones is an 23-year-old violinist from New York City, trained at Kaufman Music Center with Viktor Basis and mentored by Viktor Tretyakov and Natalia Likhopoi. Festival credits include the Perlman Music Program, International Music Academy (Cremona), and Crans-Montana Classics. Performance highlights range from Bach’s Double Concerto with the European Youth Spirit Orchestra across Italy to solo recitals at Christ Church (NYC) and venues in Germany and Italy, plus appearances at the Kaufman Gala and the Dorothy DeLay Masterclass Series. Competition highlights include MTNA (NY State & Eastern Division winner), Washington National Youth Competition (1st & Best Performance), the Oskar Rieding International (1st with special prizes and an invitation to perform with the Slovenia Philharmonic String Orchestra), and the New York International Music Concours (1st Prize & Jury Award, with Special Congressional Recognition). She also won the Kaufman Concerto Competition (Merkin Hall) and performed Sibelius with the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, and she contributes to causes through the NGO Committee on Migration, YouthArt Force, and the Global Creative Initiative.

Originally from China, Chenxi Pan is a vocalist, composer, and bandleader based in New York City. Since moving to the U.S. in 2021, she has been developing a distinctive personal style and musical language, emerging as one of the most original new voices on the city‘s jazz scene. As a bandleader, Chenxi made her debut at the renowned venue The Stone NYC in 2024. She is currently working on her debut album recorded with the same sextet - This Very Moment, featuring original compositions that explore the expressive potential of the human voice and its role within ensemble-based contemporary music. A graduate from The New School and new to the scene, Chenxi has already performed at noted venues and festivals across the U.S., Europe, and China. Staying true to her music passion and artistic identity, Chenxi is aiming to bring fresh new sounds into the jazz world.

George Grydkovets is a guitarist, bandleader, and composer from Kyiv, Ukraine, currently residing in New York City. From an early age, George was playing all over Kyiv’s clubs with his band but eventually began playing music with some of the best Ukrainian jazzmen, such as Dennis Adu. In NYC George had already performed with such musicians as Ari Hoenig, Steve Cardenas, Frank Perowsky, and Sam Yahel. Among the venues he has played were Nublu, Stone, as well as the Clifford Brown and Bern Jazz Festivals. With his "Kyiv Trio", George has recorded a debut record - “Rise”, which came out March 25th, 2022 on the “Shifting Paradigm Records”.

Aidan McCarthy is a bassist and composer hailing from Oakland, California. An impassioned musician of eclectic interests, Aidan plays a wide range of musical styles on the acoustic and electric bass. Growing up amidst the vibrant musical landscape of the Bay Area, Aidan cut his teeth on the local scene, ultimately gaining admittance to nationally acclaimed jazz programs such as Carnegie Hall’s NYO Jazz Band and the Vail Summer Jazz Workshop while in high school. Following his time at Vail, Aidan had the distinct opportunity to spend an incredibly formative year studying with the great John Clayton, bassist, composer, and pedagogue. Aidan has performed professionally with jazz luminaries such as Jazzmeia Horn, Samara Joy, Miguel Zenon, Brian Lynch, Paquito D’Rivera, Ingrid Jensen, Etienne Charles, Sean Jones, Ulysses Owens Jr., Allison Miller, Melissa Aldana, Kemuel Roig, Faye Carol, etc. Internationally, Aidan has performed in Singapore, Japan, Ecuador, Switzerland, and Italy. Nationally, he has appeared at Birdland, Dizzy’s Club Cola, and The Festival of New Trumpet Music in New York City. Aidan recently finished an undergraduate degree in Media Scoring and Production at the University of Miami, with a focus on Jazz Bass Performance, with a minor in French Language Studies.

By purchasing tickets, attendees acknowledge and consent to the possibility of appearing in official photographs and media features produced by Salon Aux Chandelles.
*Program and performers are subject to change.

What's the music?

Alexandra Andreeva