Carnegie Hall

(New York, NY, March 29, 2022)—Kira Helper and Dmitri Burtis, a happy couple who was named winner of Carnegie Hall’s Just Say Yes Dream Wedding contest in 2020, will finally celebrate their special day on Friday, April 22, 2022, approximately two years after it was originally scheduled. After receiving submissions from more than 800 couples from across the United States, Carnegie Hall—in partnership with some of New York City’s most esteemed wedding vendors—awarded the Dream Wedding to the Boston, Massachusetts-based couple but subsequently had to postpone the event due to the Hall’s COVID-19 closure. Their entry was selected for its creativity and originality as they mused on love and the meaning of music in their original submission video.

Composer and drummer Dmitri Burtis first met musical theater performer and music therapist Kira Helper as undergraduate students at Berklee College of Music about seven and a half years ago through a mutual friend. In September 2018, Dmitri proposed in the Kyoto Garden of Holland Park while on a trip to London. Upon winning the Grand Prize, the couple offered, “We just feel so grateful for this opportunity. What a way for us to start the rest of our lives together!”

The Grand Prize includes a ceremony and reception on April 22, 2022 for 100 guests in the Weill Terrace Room and Weill Music Room atop Carnegie Hall. An unforgettable food and beverage experience will be provided by Constellation Culinary Group, with event design and planning by Andrea Adelstein /NYLUX Events, hotel accommodation by Park Hyatt New York, ceremony music by Ensemble Connect, floral design by Noir Hanna International, graphic design by Amy Glaser, hair and makeup by Beautini by Brittany Lo, wedding cake by Cakes by Andrea, photography by Kylee Lee, and DJ and party services by Shiran Nicholson/Nicholson Events, and printed materials by Print Shoppe Club.

About Carnegie Hall
American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and Louise Whitfield were married on April 22, 1887 in a quiet ceremony attended by a small number of family and friends. Immediately afterwards, they boarded a ship for their honeymoon in Great Britain. On that trip, it is believed that Andrew first considered building a new music hall in New York City. Since 1891, Carnegie Hall has set the international standard for excellence in musical performance. From Tchaikovsky, Dvořák, Mahler, and Bartók to George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein, Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, Count Basie, The Beatles, and Frank Sinatra, the Hall has been the aspirational destination for the world's finest musicians.

Today, Carnegie Hall presents a wide range of performances each season on its three stages—the renowned Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, intimate Weill Recital Hall, and innovative Zankel Hall—including concert series curated by acclaimed artists and composers; citywide festivals featuring collaborations with leading New York City cultural institutions; orchestral performances, chamber music, new music concerts, and recitals; and the best in jazz, world, and popular music. Complementing these performance activities, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute creates extensive music education and social impact programs that annually serve more than 800,000 people in the New York City area, nationally, and internationally, playing a central role in Carnegie Hall’s commitment to making great music accessible to as many people as possible. For more information, visit carnegiehall.org.

Special Events at Carnegie Hall
Matching the artistry and grandeur of its world-renowned performance venues, Carnegie Hall's extraordinary classic and contemporary event spaces feature an expansive rooftop terrace, a private dining room with historic fixtures, and newly renovated, flexible spaces with dramatic windows that showcase Central Park and skyline views.

Whether for an elegant wedding, festive family celebration, chic corporate gathering, or non-profit gala, Constellation Culinary Group, Carnegie Hall’s on-site exclusive culinary partner, brings each host’s vision to life with delicious fare presented beautifully and served with choreographed precision. For more information to help plan your next event at Carnegie Hall, visit carnegiehall.org/eventspaces.