Article Contributed by Shore Fire Media
Published on 2026-06-09
Louis Armstrong House Museum is set to hold their annual gala on Thursday, June 18th at 583 Park Avenue in New York. This unforgettable evening will celebrate the extraordinary artistry, leadership, and enduring impact of Wynton Marsalis, and longstanding supporter of culture Morgan Stanley, while supporting the legacy and future of the Louis Armstrong House Museum. This year also marks the centennial celebration of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives. This year’s gala celebration will continue honoring their revolutionary legacy.
The lively evening will bring together friends, supporters, and jazz lovers for a spectacular celebration featuring a special live performance by an extraordinary lineup of acclaimed jazz artists including Bruce Harris (Trumpet), Jon-Erik Kellso (Trumpet), Wycliffe Gordon (Trombone), Evan Arntzen (Clarinet & Saxophone), Russell Hall (Bass), Ricky Riccardi (Piano) and Herlin Riley (Drums).
Executive Director Regina Bain shared, “We are so humbled and honored to celebrate Wynton Marsalis this upcoming evening. Thank you to Morgan Stanley for their support of our ambitious initiatives and helping ensure that Armstrong’s legacy remains vibrant for generations to come. We look forward to sharing our Armstrong in Ghana exhibition and celebrating the centennial of The Hot Fives with you all.”
The beloved Queens institution is proud to honor Wynton Marsalis, a towering figure in jazz, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, visionary bandleader, master educator, and one of the most influential cultural leaders of our time. From his virtuosic trumpet performances to his unwavering dedication to preserving and advancing America’s great musical art form, Wynton Marsalis has shaped the sound, spirit, and future of jazz for generations. His commitment to artistry, history, and community reflects the very values that define the legacy of Louis Armstrong.
The gala will also honor Morgan Stanley for its longstanding commitment to supporting culture, education, and community engagement. Their leadership and investment in the arts help sustain institutions and programs that ensure jazz and cultural history continue to inspire future generations.
This October, Louis Armstrong in Ghana will open as the newest exhibition at the museum. This multinational exhibition and music exchange commemorates the 70th anniversary of Armstrong’s initial concert tour to Accra, Ghana. The exhibition, accompanying performances and educational workshops of Armstrong in Ghana will explore Armstrong’s legacy as an American and global icon, navigating cultural and political complexities as he toured his music throughout the world. The opening weekend has been set for October 1-3.
This past fall, the Mayor and Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Commissioner announced the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens, NY as one of five new members of the city’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG). These five new groups will receive substantial subsidies for operations and energy costs, as well as capital investment from the city. The new CIGs will broaden this collection of world-class institutions, making it even more vibrant and reflective of the city they serve.
The Louis Armstrong Center and Archive. Photo Credit: Albert Vercerka/Esto
About Louis Armstrong House Museum
Louis Armstrong is a definitive arbiter of Jazz and America’s first Black popular music icon. He entertained millions, from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in the working-class neighborhood of Corona, Queens. The Louis Armstrong House Museum preserves this legacy by offering guided tours of the historic home and preserving Armstrong’s 60,000-piece archives. The Museum is in the midst of a dramatic physical and programmatic transformation, marked most visibly by the opening of the new Louis Armstrong Center, located across the street from the historic home. The new Center helps advance our mission of preserving the legacy of Louis and Lucille Armstrong, and to live their values of artistic excellence, education and community. The expanded campus will become a new, international destination celebrating Armstrong’s distinctive role in African-Diaspora history and vitality, offering year-round exhibitions, performances, readings, lectures, and screenings through an array of public programs for all ages. The Center and the historic house are open to the public Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets can be purchased on the Museum’s website. Advance purchase is highly recommended as tours of the Center and the historic house have limited capacity. Authors, researchers and other scholars can visit the Armstrong archives by advance appointment. For ticketing and more information about the new Center, visit www.louisarmstronghouse.org.
