RELATED: Photos from the Kaufman Center Re-Opening Gala

In the grand foyer of Roy Niederhoffer and Kara Unterberg’s Upper West Side townhouse on New Year’s Eve, Mr. Niederhoffer, at a grand piano, and his son, on a violin, accompanied a changing crowd of party guests on dozens of show tunes and pop songs. It was not an unusual scene in this household, nor was it a surprise to learn that the family is involved with the Kaufman Center.

The center is music central for thousands of children in New York City. More than 2,200 students study music at the Lucy Moses School, and 135 full-time students are enrolled in the center’s public school for gifted musicians, the Special Music School.

Both Mr. Niederhoffer and Ms. Unterberg are trustees of the center, and their son and daughter study violin at the Lucy Moses School.

“The Kaufman Center is our musical home away from home,” Ms. Unterberg said. “We feel fortunate our children have the opportunity to learn to love music in an environment with high musical standards and a sense of community, not to mention the incredible concert hall.”

On Tuesday night, Mr. Niederhoffer and Ms. Unterberg (who doesn’t play an instrument, but sings, and is on the board of the New York City Opera) were at the Kaufman Center’s concert and reception to celebrate the completion of a $17 million renovation. More than 100 supporters were in attendance, including troubadour Richie Havens, a trustee of the center who had just finished his 30th album; trustee Elaine Kaufman and her husband, Henry, whose $8 million gift spearheaded the project; the chairwoman of the center’s board of trustees and chairwoman of the Capital Campaign Committee, Bethany Millard; the son of the original underwriter of the facility, Leonard Goodman, and Sharon and Solomon Merkin, after whose family the concert hall is named.

The event showed off some spruced up spaces and the center’s executive director, Lydia Kostos, whose remarks from the stage demonstrated her passion for the job.

But as was the case in the Niederhoffer/Unterberg foyer, the stars of the night were the child musicians. Violinist Haley Billia, 12, aced her solo in Ira Mowitz’s “Kol Aharon,” performed by the Face the Music ensemble.

“I really love the school. It’s not competitive at all,” Haley, who has studied violin since she was 4, said.

Ramin Abrams, 10, played the double bass in the ensemble. He attended the event with his parents and his brother, Justin, 15, who studies at the Special Music School while also enrolled at the Professional Children’s School.

Justin has some firm ideas about his musical future. He plans to double major in music and business in college. Eventually, he wants to become a music donor. “I want to build my own concert hall,” he said.

agordon@nysun.com