From the Basement to the Big Stage — The Songwriters Hall of Fame Master Sessions returned to Stuyvesant High School on December 13, 2025, with a morning that students won’t soon forget. The session culminated in a standout performance by Stuyvesant freshman Daniel Hall, who joined a fellow All-City Modern Music Project student to perform a heartfelt cover of “Killing Me Softly”—a tribute offered directly to its producer, multi-Grammy-winning songwriter and musician Jerry Wonda. The performance perfectly captured the spirit of the day: young artists stepping into the room with confidence, craft, and respect for the lineage of the music they love. Presented in partnership with Sony Music Publishing and hosted by Stuyvesant music teacher Harold Stephan, Chair of the SHOF NY Education Committee, the session brought together students from the All-City Modern Music Project and Sound Thinking NYC to learn what a real life in music actually requires.
Jerry Wonda spoke candidly about his journey—from learning bass in church to building a basement studio that led to career-defining work—emphasizing musicianship, technical skill, and collaboration as the foundations of longevity. He reminded students that while modern tools make creating faster than ever, artistry still comes from structure, storytelling, and integrity. Growth, he explained, often arrives through uncomfortable opportunities, and success is rarely a solo effort. Throughout student performances and feedback, Mr. Wonda reinforced that “making it” in music takes many forms, from artists and producers to engineers, managers, and creatives behind the scenes. For students like Daniel Hall, the message was clear: do the work, stay curious, support one another—and when the moment comes, step forward and let your voice be heard.
The SHOF Master Sessions at Stuyvesant program, created by Mr. Harold Stephan, has hosted events for NYC public school students highlighting both the business and creative sides of the music industry since 2018, with past sessions featuring Aaron Accetta, Mia Jay C, Simone Dixon, Maria Christensen, Alexx Antaeus, Will Weinbach, Amit Harris, Evan Keiser, Wes Richardson, Michelle Locke, Patrick Wimberly, Tom Lee, Dylan Prince, John Hampson, Paul Umbach, Alex Da Kid, Michael Uzowuru, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Nija Charles, TBHits, Sam Ashworth, Denzel Baptiste & David Biral p/k/a Take A Daytrip, Khari “Needlz” Cain, Steven Van Zandt, Steve Greenberg, Mark Hudson, Samantha Cox, Leyla Blue, Maude Latour, Laundry Day, Pom Pom, Mike Campbell, Billy Mann, Gregg Wattenberg and Rich Christina.
