William Cavanaugh

Such an Elegant Evening…..Houston Symphony’s Old World Tribute to Vienna a Million Dollar Night

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The Houston social calendar officially kicked off the New Year and New Season with the most elegant evening celebrating the 2024 Houston Symphony Ball, themed Vienna Fête Impériale. Over 400 guests in their finest white tie and over-the-top elegant fashions filled the ballroom of the Post Oak Hotel, raising over $1 million to benefit the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Program. The ballroom thanks to the talents of Richard Flowers of the Events Company converted the room through its decor to a perfect blend of Vienna and American culture. Crystal chandeliers, candelabras and tables covered in exquisite linens were the perfect setting for the most elegant and beautiful display of florals arrangements in varying sizes and shades of pink very much in keeping with the theme of old world Europe.

To learn more, read the entire article on MyRedGlasses

Brad Cavanaugh

Houston Icons Saluted at Symphony Gala

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From insights on dinners with President Nixon and President George Herbert Walker Bush to the socialites who have chased me across ballrooms, Donna Vallone of Tony’s fame and I answered myriad questions from our interviewer Leisa Holland Bowman at the Houston Symphony League‘s annual “Conversation With an Icon” luncheon.

Read the entire article on Paper City

Brad Cavanaugh

Inside Houston Symphony’s $1.1M ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ ball at the Post Oak Hotel

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Welcome to Hollywood, Texas.

For one night only, Houston Symphony transformed the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown’s into scenes from the “Golden Age of Hollywood” for its annual black-tie ball.

Think “L.A. Confidential,” and “Chinatown.” A quartet of trench-clad reporter impersonators welcomed 400 guests into the gala. Pencils and notepads in hand, they shouted interview questions at arrivals. Inside, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn lookalikes posed against Art Deco-inspired backdrops. 

To learn more, read the entire article on the Houston Chronicle

Brad Cavanaugh

Musicians bring Houston Symphony to people in communities that may not have access otherwise

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The holiday party at CarePartners’ Dementia Day Center is in full swing. Maybe 30 to 40 clients, known as “members,” mingle with family members, enjoying cookies and hot chocolate in the center’s day room. Seventh-graders from nearby St. Mark’s Episcopal School fan through the crowd, passing out treats.

To read the entire article, please visit Preview at the Houston Chronicle by clicking this link.

William Cavanaugh

Charlie Wilson’s War Heroine Shares Tales of the Earliest Days of the Houston Symphony League — Joanne King Herring Has Been Involved Since 1946

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What: The Houston Symphony League Fall Membership Luncheon

Where: The Junior League of Houston

PC Moment: The age-defying Joanne King Herring — who has lived many exciting interludes in her 90-plus years, including having Julia Roberts portray her in Charlie Wilson’s War — took a step way back to recall the early days of the Houston Symphony and her memories of Ima Hogg, principal of the symphony founding in 1913. Herring was just 17 when she first became involved with the symphony in 1946.

To read the entire article on PaperCity click here

Ann Cavanaugh

Jones Hall is undergoing a $25.5M upgrade to improve sound and replace aging infrastructure

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Over the span of a month, Jones Hall served as the setting for an emotional farewell to Houston Symphony music director Andres Orozco-Estrada and a grandiose welcome to his successor Juraj Valcuha.

Rather than Mahler’s “Resurrection” symphony or Beethoven’s Ninth, the sounds emanating inside the downtown hall this week are from construction, the first step in an endeavor called “Overture to the Future,” a multi-year, multi-million-dollar update of the performing arts space that opened in 1966. In a city known for tearing buildings down, Jones Hall will — like the Alley Theatre a few years ago — be the beneficiary of a significant renovation rather than demolition.

To continue reading click here for the article on HoustonChronicle.com (subscription may be required)

William Cavanaugh

Inspiring Conversations with Jacquie Baly of BalyProjects

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacquie Baly. She shares her story with us below:

*Native of St. Croix USVI, came to Texas at the age of 7.
*Parents are from the French West Indies and a majority of my relatives live in St. Martin/Maarten
*I am the first of my family to graduate from college (however my mother earned her degree soon after).
*My parents taught me that hard work, discipline, dedication and a good work-ethic will take me very far.
*After graduate school (I have a master’s in City Planning with a concentration in Public Affairs) I began my work career as a city planner and progressed to Vice President of the Greater Houston Partnership before starting my own consulting practice.

To continue reading click here to read the article on VoyageHouston

Brad Cavanaugh

Houston Symphony League Interviews A Houston Icon

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Chic … Eloquent … Sold-out! These were just some of the afternoon fun at the Junior League of Houston, where 150 beautifully dressed women and men enjoyed lunch and listened to chairperson Marla Hurley interview former retail giant Robert Sakowitz. View the article on the SOCIAL BOOK

William Cavanaugh

Ardyce Tostengard Crystal Cello Award Winner for 2021-22 is Robert Chanon

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Robert Chanon

The Crystal Cello award is presented each year by the Houston Symphony League to an outstanding education volunteer for serving and inspiring others and bringing the joy and splendor of music to children and their families in the Houston community.

This award was established in 2000 to honor the memory of Ardyce Tostengard, a long-time education volunteer known for her dedication, service and lasting impact on the education programs of the Houston Symphony and for inspiring others. This is the 21st year the Crystal Cello Award has been given. The recipient this year is Robert Chanon. 

Robert has been a Symphony Subscriber since 1978. He joined the Houston Symphony League after he retired. Since joining, he has assisted Symphony staff and League members with musician auditions and served as an usher during student concerts.

Bob has helped with the instrument “petting zoo” and craft activities during Magical Musical Morning and Family concerts. He has been a volunteer at several Ima Hogg Competitions as well as at Orchestra lunches. Since last year, he has helped with social media photography for Houston Symphony League events.

Bob demonstrates the same quiet, modest, low-key leadership for which Ardyce Tostengard was known. He also demonstrates persistence, dedication and commitment. He is always upbeat and on the spot when you need help. As Bob says, “The Houston Symphony is a treasure for everyone who lives in Houston. Supporting it is both a privilege and honor.”



Congratulations, Bob!

Ann Cavanaugh

Houston Symphony League Featured in Swoonworthy News

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