The event will be hosted by baritone Sherrill Milnes and will include appearances by pianist Van Cliburn, Lincoln Center chairman Bruce Crawford, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, New York Pops conductor Skitch Henderson, soprano Leontyne Price, and Barry Tucker, the son of singer Richard Tucker and a friend of the Merrill family, as well as Marion Merrill, Merrill's widow.

A limited number of seats are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

Merrill was a leading Metropolitan Opera baritone for 30 years, appearing more than 500 times in such roles as Rigoletto, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Escamillo in Carmen, and Tonio in Pagliacci. He also sang frequently on radio and television.

A baseball fan, Merrill regularly sang the national anthem at Yankee Stadium at season-opening, playoff, and World Series games, and the team played a recording of his rendition at other home games.

The Juilliard School has established a scholarship fund in Merrill's honor, to be used to support the education of vocal students. Contributions can be sent to:

Victoria Brand
Manager of Scholarship Development
The Juilliard School
60 Lincoln Center Plaza
New York, NY 10023