LET’S FACE THE MUSIC

LET’S FACE THE MUSIC

by | Oct 30, 2022 | R.S.V.P. HOUSTON, 2022 November December, Parties

Houston Symphony Opening Night Concert And Gala’s Grand Style

 

By Jennifer Roosth      Photography by Priscilla Dickson and Daniel Ortiz

THE SETTING: Recently, over 300 guests, donning their finest black tie attire, attended the Houston Symphony’s Opening Night concert and gala. Upon arrival at Jones Hall, partygoers enjoyed champagne and hors d’oeuvres on the Mezzanine level before making their way into see concert. The evening featured Juraj Valčuha leading the orchestra and Houston Symphony Chorus, alongside soprano Ana María Martínez, mezzo-soprano Marina Prudenskaya, tenor Jonathan Tetelman, and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy. Following the performance, guests were transported to the Corinthian Houston for a spectacular seated dinner catered by Jackson and Company. Following dinner, guests enjoyed musical entertainment by the David Caceres Band.

 

THE STYLE: The Corinthian ballroom was donned with crystal chandeliers and greenery cascading across the balcony, all designed by The Events Company. The elegant tables that filled the room, covered in green linens, were topped with varying high and low-profile floral arrangements in shades of white and green.

 

Dinner began with an Italian butter lettuce salad with fresh herbs, gulf shrimp terrine, chives, and pickled mustard seed vinaigrette topped with a toasted chickpea crouton and three radish slaw. The main course included a gremolata and breadcrumb crusted black cod, with charred leek and artichoke white wine emulsion, alongside summer squash and white corn rösti, and Romano beans and button chanterelle sauté.  Accompanying the meal were wine pairings provided by Spec’s Wine, Spirits, & Finer Foods. After dinner, the dessert was a trio that included coconut sorbet verrine, tiramisu profiteroles, and hazelnut macaroons.

 

THE PURPOSE: The annual Houston Symphony Opening Night concert and gala, chaired by Drs. Susan and Dennis Carlyle, celebrated the opening of the 2022–2023 season and the tenure of Juraj Valčuha as the Houston Symphony’s 16th music director and holder of the Roy and Lillie Cullen Chair. This year’s event raised more than $540,000 for the orchestra’s industry-leading Education and Community Engagement initiatives. ConocoPhillips served as the Concert Sponsor and Lead Gala Corporate Underwriter for the 36th year.   

RHAPSODIC REVELRY

RHAPSODIC REVELRY

by | Feb 28, 2022 | R.S.V.P. HOUSTON, 2022 March April, Parties

Houston Symphony Gala Creates Fundraising Overtures

 

By Jennifer Roosth               Photography by Wilson Parrish and Priscilla Dickson

THE SETTING: Cascading white florals filled the ballroom, as 350 music supporters attended the 2022 Houston Symphony Ball, themed The Symphony World in Harmony at the plush Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston. With pandemic protocol in place, the celebratory night was an event to remember as it highlighted the organization’s glittering achievements, accolades, and ingenuity through the years. The evening honored Margaret Alkek Williams with the Lifetime of Philanthropy Award, Janet F. Clark with the Ima Hogg Philanthropy Award, and John Mangum with the Raphael Fliegel Award for Visionary Leadership.

 

THE STYLE: The evening featured a gourmet multi-course dinner by the hotel’s Executive Chef Jean Luc Royere, with wine pairings selected by Lindy and John Rydman of Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods. Beyond the robust silent auction throughout the evening, guests enjoyed live music from the Dave Bennet Quartet. In a twist of musical genres, the event culminated with an acoustic performance by legendary rocker Sammy Hagar, accompanied by his longtime guitarist, Vic Johnson.

 

THE PURPOSE: Cheryl Byington, Bill Stubbs, and Beth Wolff, the event chairs, were delighted with the results of the annual event that raised over $1,100,000 for the Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement initiatives in schools, hospitals, and other venues throughout the city. These activities include education programs that serve students in 26 area school districts and a Health and Wellness initiative for patients, their families, and caregivers at three Texas Medical Center hospitals.

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RISING TO NEW HEIGHTS

RISING TO NEW HEIGHTS

by | Apr 29, 2021 | R.S.V.P. HOUSTON, 2021 May June, Parties

Houston Symphony Gala Celebrates Season

 

By Jennifer Roosth  Photography by Wilson Parish

THE SETTING: The 2021 Houston Symphony Royal Phoenix Ball was hosted at the celebrated Post Oak Hotel Uptown Houston. With pandemic protocols in place, the event immersed guests both in-person and virtually into its theme of the Royal Phoenix. Upon entering the venue, guests’ temperatures were taken to comply with the event’s health and safety protocols. Once cleared, attendees were greeted by the living phoenixes, visited the Dragon Fly Bar, and sipped on the event’s signature cocktail, The Singapore Sling. More than 114 in-person guests attended the limited capacity, socially distanced occasion and over 70 households (over 140 attendees) supported the event virtually.

 

THE STYLE: The décor, created by Richard Flowers of The Events Company, transformed the main ballroom at The Post Oak Hotel to this season’s ravishing theme. As the dinner chimes rang, masked guests made their way to their tables covered with magnificent floral arrangements. Phoenix murals, inspired by the theme, hung on the walls and were draped with red curtains. Executive Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere prepared an exquisite dinner including a light and delicate heirloom tomato salad with marinated feta, pickled onions, watercress, micro basil, and balsamic vinaigrette, accompanied by a savory combination of filet mignon and roasted red snapper with corn and smoked bacon polenta, roasted sweet peppers, asparagus. It was finished with a flaming piquillo pepper sauce, and the Flaming Phoenix dessert, an almond tart topped with strawberry ganache, strawberry jam, and gold leaf.

 

THE PURPOSE: The event was chaired by Rini and Edward Zeigler and honored Robin Angly, Miles Smith and John Neighbors. It raised more than $800,000 for the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Programming. Phillips 66 served as the presenting sponsor for the seventh year in a row to support the artistic organization.

 

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MUSIC FOR EVERYONE

MUSIC FOR EVERYONE

by | Aug 30, 2019 | 2019 September October, Parties, Houston

Houston Symphony Ball Celebrates Vintage Music Garden Gala

By Jennifer Roosth Photography by Jenny Antill, Daniel Ortiz and Wilson Parish

 

THE SETTING: The ballroom of The Post Oak Hotel was transformed into a Vintage Music Garden themed gala designed by Richard Flowers of The Events Company. Over 450 guests clad in spring-inspired black tie attire sipped cocktails and snacked on tasty hors d’oeuvres while bidding on coveted one-of-a-kind silent auction items.

THE STYLE: Guests were wowed by a green lattice gazebo covered in fresh flowers and characters in vintage garb strolling throughout the foyer. As the dinner chimes rang, patrons made their way to their tables, which were covered with floral arrangements in various vases including gramophones, brass bowls, and tall mossed vases. Enormous murals, inspired by the theme, hung on the walls which were draped with spring green curtains.

Following the presentation, which honored all past Houston Symphony Society presidents; John Cater, Robert Hermance, Janice Barrow, Rodney Margolis, Ed Wulfe, Jesse Tutor, Robert Tudor III, Steven Mach, and Janet Clark, the guests enjoyed dinner prepared by Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere. Everyone then danced the night away to the sounds of The Jordan Kahn Orchestra at the circus-themed aftrer party..

THE PUPOSE: The event, chaired by Courtney and Bill Toomey, with support from BB&T, raised more than $1.3 million for the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement programs. Phillips 66 served as the Presenting Sponsor for the fifth year in a row. The silent auction was chaired by Allison Harper, while Lexi Sakowitz and Elisa Lubanko served as the event’s after party chairs.

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