Yankees great/guitarist Bernie Williams to make N.Y. orchestra debut

NEW YORK -- Former New York Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams will make his New York Philharmonic debut on April 24 when future music director Gustavo Dudamel leads the orchestra's spring gala at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall.

Williams, 55, was a five-time All-Star while playing for the Yankees from 1991 to 2006 and won the 1998 American League batting title. He is classically trained guitarist who began playing at age 7, and has released two recordings, in 2003 and 2009.Williams also performed around the world and released a book about the marriage of music and sports. The book, in which Williams said he "bared his soul," is called "Rhythms of the Game."

Dudamel, 42, has been music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2009, a tenure that will end after 17 seasons when he starts in New York for the 2026-27 season. He will have a rehearsal with the students April 22 and will lead the youth orchestra in a concert April 26 at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. There also will be a rehearsal on the morning of April 24 open to music teachers, families of the youth orchestra and the orchestra's community partners.

The program is still being planned.

Common, a rapper whose actual name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn, will also make his philharmonic debut in a program with soprano Hera Hyesang Park, the orchestra said Wednesday. The philharmonic will perform alongside high school musicians chosen in auditions.