Salon Aux Chandelles is an intimate candlelit concert series in New York City that revives the spirit of the European salon for a contemporary audience. Hosted at the historic 3 West Club, each gathering brings together exceptional performers and guests who value culture, conversation, and atmosphere.

The 2025–26 season opens on November 15 with an evening curated to feel cohesive — music, setting, and audience all in dialogue with one another.

Following the performance, guests from fashion, finance, music, and the arts stay to connect over light refreshments. Photography and interviews will be taking place throughout the night to document the event and its attendees.

In the end, Salon Aux Chandelles is not just a concert — it’s a composed cultural experience.

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

PROGRAM

1. Eugène Ysaÿe - Sonata No. 5 for violin solo: L'Aurore
   Performers:
   Julia Jones, violin

2. Joseph Kosma - Autumn Leaves (4')
   Performers:
   Chenxi Pan, voice
   George Grydkovets, guitar

3. Brooks Bowman - East of the Sun (and West of the Moon) (6')
   Performers:
   Chenxi Pan, voice
   George Grydkovets, guitar

4. Vernon Duke - Autumn in New York ('3)
   Performers:
   Chenxi Pan, voice
   George Grydkovets guitar

5. Henry Mancini - Moon River (5')
   Performers:
   Chenxi Pan, voice
   George Grydkovets, guitar

6. 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”.

*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.