Updated: November 27, 2009, 1:04 pm

Ten O'Clock Classics (TOC) Sixth Annual Gala Event Supports Music Education

Lou Reed and Ronen Segev posing with children from the Mount Carmel Holy Rosary School. Photos courtesy of Jakes/HIM Photo

New York City - Guitar legend Lou Reed, New York's first Public Advocate Mark Green, Tennis legend Yannick Noah, Ben Jelen, Dominic Chianese and other special guests attended the Ten O'Clock Classics (TOC) Sixth Annual Gala Event in support of their musical education programs at The Union Square Ballroom, in Manhattan on November 10.

Stuart Match Suna, Billy Lerner and David Pickett.

TOC raised money through a silent and live auction with items such as a Justin Timberlake autographed piano, a Lou Reed autographed guitar, NY Giants tickets and field game passes and tickets to "The Today Show" with a behind-the-scenes tour, just to name a few. The seated dinner included a much anticipated performance by Ben Jelen with children from the Mount Carmel Holy Rosary School in East Harlem, eight-year-old prodigy violinist Alice Ivy-Pemberton, French tennis legend and singer Yannick Noah and world renowned opera singer Ailyn Perez. Additionally, paintings by celebrated Hamptons based artist Michelle Suna were on display and for sale throughout the event. A portion of sales from Suna's paintings will go towards the fundraiser.

TOC is a non-profit group seeking to eliminate the financial barriers that keep talented, underprivileged children in New York City from fully realizing their artistic potential by providing them with the resources needed to study classical music. This gala raised funds for their program and allows TOC to provide many services free of charge, such as music lessons taught by graduates of the Juilliard School, instruments for home practice, educational outings to concerts at venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and outreach concerts for large groups of children at public schools. At last year's gala, TOC Classics raised nearly $200,000.

Ronen Segev and artist Michelle Suna.

Founded in 2000 by concert pianist Ronen Segev and led by Chairman of the Board, David Picket, TOC is comprised of the finest young concert artists in the world. TOC has performed in venues throughout the world including New York's Carnegie Hall, Cortot Hall in Paris, and the Melbourne International Arts Festival. TOC's outreach concerts include performances at Studio 54, Gotham Properties, Crunch Fitness, The Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room, MAKOR, Le Cirque, Union Square Ballroom, and numerous other venues. TOC brings classical music to a broader audience by presenting top-quality performances in non-traditional venues. By having world-renowned musicians and celebrity hosts perform on young people's turf, the musical experience has much more meaning. TOC's educational initiatives include providing weekly private music lessons and instruments free of charge to NYC school children, and performances and lectures at schools throughout the country.

For further information, go to www.tocmusic.com.