Person Place Thing x Viñoly Foundation: Matías Tarnopolsky

Live recording of Person Place Thing with host Randy Cohen, featuring Matías Tarnopolsky, and live music by Duo Kayo.

Join us for an evening with Matías Tarnopolsky, the Linda and Mitch Hart President & CEO of the New York Philharmonic and one of the leading cultural executives of his generation. With a career spanning some of the world’s foremost orchestras, performing arts centers, and universities, Tarnopolsky has championed innovative partnerships, expanded audiences, and strengthened the role of cultural institutions as civic anchors. His work has consistently focused on connecting artistic excellence with public life, fostering new collaborations, and bringing music to broader and more diverse communities.

Hosted by Emmy Award–winning writer Randy Cohen, Person Place Thing invites remarkable guests to share stories about one person, one place, and one thing that hold special meaning to them. The evening will also feature live music by Duo Kayo, the chamber music partnership of violist Edwin Kaplan and cellist Titilayo Ayangade. Drawing on more than two decades of combined experience with ensembles including the Tesla Quartet, Palaver Strings, and Thalea String Quartet, the duo is dedicated to expanding the chamber music repertoire through commissions, premieres, and fresh interpretations of classical works. Their adventurous programming and expressive performances invite audiences to experience chamber music in new ways.

Sponsored by the Viñoly Foundation and hosted at Rafael Viñoly Architects’ headquarters in Lower Manhattan, this live conversation promises an evening of thoughtful dialogue, music, and creative insight. Drawing on decades of leadership across the cultural sector, Tarnopolsky offers a deeply personal perspective on music, community, and the enduring power of the arts to inspire connection, imagination, and civic life.