On the evening of Thursday, June 11, 2026, New York’s Kaufman Music Center will become the stage for one of the most important Polonia events of the summer. The gala “Bridges of Freedom – America250 Celebration,” organized by the Foundation for Culture and Art, is part of the official observances of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the United States’ independence. It is an evening that joins two anniversaries and two nations – and for New York’s Polonia, an occasion to recall that the Polish presence in America reaches back to the country’s very beginnings.
A bridge between Warsaw and Washington
The title of the gala is no accident. “Bridges of Freedom” is a story about the bonds that have linked Poland and America for two and a half centuries – about shared values, historical experiences, and the people who set out from Poland to the New World, preserving their own traditions while helping to build a new reality. The organizers describe the event as a symbolic bridge between Warsaw and Washington, between history and the present. The performance aims to show how courage, solidarity, and a love of freedom built bonds between nations – and how that heritage inspires today’s generations of Polonia.
The artistic program weaves together historical narration with music, dance, documentary film, and modern visual design. It is meant to be a multidimensional experience – not a concert in the classic sense, but a spectacle of artistic, historical, and educational value all at once.
Chopin meets Gershwin
The musical program of the gala is a meeting of two worlds. Pianist Kate Liu will perform, third prize winner of the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 2015, acclaimed on concert stages worldwide for her poetic interpretations. Alongside her will appear Kevin Cole, widely regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of George Gershwin’s music, and Kurt Decker, an esteemed performer of Frank Sinatra’s classics and songs from the Great American Songbook. The repertoire will include works by Chopin, Debussy, Schumann, and Gershwin, as well as the most beloved American standards that for decades shaped the musical sound of America. It is a musical journey that joins the elegance of European classics with the timeless charm of American jazz and musical theater.
An integral part of the evening will be the premiere of a short documentary film, “Famous Polish Americans.” The film presents the figures of Poles and people of Polish descent who left their mark on American history – from heroes of the War of Independence, through politicians and scientists, to entrepreneurs, artists, and leaders of public life. It is a cinematic reminder that the Polish contribution to building America is not a footnote, but part of the mainstream of its history.
Two anniversaries, one evening
The year 2026 is exceptional for both communities. America celebrates 250 years of independence, and at the same time, the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union marks 50 years of operation. Founded in 1976, PSFCU has grown into the largest ethnic credit union in the United States, and for half a century, it has been not only a financial partner of Polonia but also an active participant in its cultural and social life.
An important moment of the evening will be the honoring of Bogdan Chmielewski, president of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union. As the organizers note, the statuette is intended as an expression of the Polonia community’s gratitude for his long-standing leadership and his consistent support of social, educational, and cultural initiatives that have strengthened Polonia’s standing and integration. It is a gesture that links the celebration of an American jubilee with recognition of concrete, everyday work on behalf of the Polish community in the United States.
Patron, partners, and honorary patronage
The patron of the event is Syrena Bakery – since 1993, one of the most recognizable bakeries in Greenpoint, known for its traditional baked goods and dishes inspired by the flavors of Eastern Europe. The gala is supported by a broad circle of Polonia institutions and businesses. Among the partners are the Marek Maria Pienkowski Foundation, the American Council for Polish Culture, the Polish cosmetics company Ziaja, the Polish Army Veterans Association of America (SWAP), Polonia of Long Island, the Polish American Congress Long Island Division, Atlantic Stairs, the Society of Polish American Travel Agents (SPATA), the Marie Skłodowska Curie Professional Women’s Association, Markowa Apteka, Kiszka Meat Market, and Dompak Corporation. The media partners are TVP Polonia, Dziennik Polonijny, Dziennik Związkowy, White Eagle, Super Express US, and Abecadło.
The gala will be held under the Honorary Patronage of Ambassador Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the United Nations, and Mateusz Sakowicz, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York. Patronage has also been extended by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), the Józef Piłsudski Institute of America, the Polish Cultural Institute New York, the Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA), and the Polish Army Veterans Association of America.
An evening not to be missed
For Polonia families from New York, Long Island, and New Jersey, this is one of those evenings that come once in a generation – a moment when two hundred fifty years of shared freedom meet music, film, and memory on a single stage. Attendees will receive a commemorative keepsake marking the America250 jubilee. One evening, one stage, one story linking two nations.
Bridges of Freedom – key information
- When: Thursday, June 11, 2026, 7:30 PM.
- Where: Kaufman Music Center, New York.
- Tickets: $70 and $50. Kaufman Music Center Box Office, tel. 212 501 3330, [email protected], www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org. Also at Polonia Bookstore, 882 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, tel. 718 389 1684.
Editorial Team, Voice of Polonia in the USA. Find more Polonia event announcements at poland.us. For a catalog of Polonia businesses, institutions, and events, visit PolishPages.com.
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