For four decades, the World Music Institute (WMI) has been a pivotal force in bringing extraordinary global music concerts to New York City, creating life-changing experiences for its audiences. On Thursday, October 16, the organization celebrated 40 years of dedicated work, reflecting on its enduring commitment to showcase the finest international musical talents to New Yorkers.

WMI has demonstrated remarkable resilience, navigating through significant challenges including wars, recessions, a global pandemic, and periods marked by government policies perceived as hostile to the arts and foreign culture. Despite these hurdles, its mission has remained steadfast, ensuring a continuous flow of diverse cultural expressions to the city.

The 40th Anniversary Gala was an evening of recognition and celebration, honoring key donors and artists who have supported WMI throughout its journey. However, the central focus of the night was unequivocally on its visionary original founders, Robert and Helene Browning. Both were present, sharing captivating tales that highlighted the organization's genesis and growth.

Under the current leadership of Gaby Sappington and Brice Rosenbloom, the gala conveyed a powerful message of unity, solidarity, and resistance, underscoring WMI's vital role in cultural preservation and exchange. The celebratory mood was amplified by two superb musical performances that captivated the attendees.

The first performance featured Mehrnam Rastegari, an Iranian kamancheh player and singer who has recently arrived in New York. She was accompanied by Camila Celin on sarod and guitar, and Roshni Samlal on tabla, forming what was described as a central Asian, all-female powerhouse that delivered an absolutely beautiful and captivating set.

Following this, New York-based Malian kora player Yacouba Sissoko took the stage, performing two pieces alongside South Indian (Carnatic) violinist Arun Ramamurthy. Despite having played together only three times previously, these two musicians created pure magic. Their first collaboration unfolded with the peaceful, propulsive lope characteristic of Mande music, featuring delightful improvisations exchanged between them. The second piece, a composition by Ramamurthy, necessitated Sissoko to retune his kora to an Indian scale, resulting in a display of musical fireworks.

Throughout the night, DJ Nickodemus curated a tasty and appropriately varied musical backdrop, contributing to the overall festive atmosphere. The evening was universally acclaimed as a superb celebration, with many wishing for another 40 years of WMI's invaluable contributions to the global music scene in New York.