News | Houston Symphony League | Supporting the Houston Symphony Since 1937

This 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 for her dedication, service and lasting impact on the education programs of the Houston Symphony, for inspiring others and for bringing the joy and splendor of music to children and their families in the Houston community. This is the 20th year the Ardyce Tostengard Crystal Cello Award has been given. This year’s recipients of the Ardyce Tostengard Crystal Cello Award are Betty & Gerry Stacy.

Betty & Gerry have lived in Friendswood since 1974. They have three sons, a daughter and three grandchildren. Since they retired in 2009, Betty & Gerry have been very active in their community-volunteering at the Houston Rodeo and a concession stand at the Astros games. They run their Episcopal Church’s resale shop. They enjoy travel and visits to Vegas & Louisiana. A large part of “being active in their community” has been their membership in both the Bay Area Symphony League and the Houston Symphony League. As a member of the Bay Area Symphony League, Betty began volunteering in the Jones Hall Symphony Store and was the buyer with Joyce Fox for several years. Betty & Gerry have volunteered for the Ima Hogg Competition. And, this year, Betty is the V-P of Education for the Bay Area League. But, for at least the last 10 years, they have truly shone in their dedication & commitment to the Student Concerts and every year work almost all of them. Betty has co-chaired Student Concerts with both Joyce Fox and Gayle Eury. Betty & Gerry demonstrate the same quiet, modest, low-key leadership that Ardyce Tostengard was known for and for persistence, dedication, & commitment. They have involved others in service and have expanded the League’s ability to support our mission to support the Symphony’s Student Concerts-the Symphony’s bedrock program that brings music to Houston Area children.

League member, Joan Duff, experienced a transformative moment at last year’s Magical Musical Morning. So much so that she is chairing this year’s December 8th event at the River Oaks Country Club.
As a new member of the Houston Symphony League, and grandmother to eight youngsters, Joan immediately bought a table for her Houston area grandchildren. Her 7-year old grandson, Jed, absolutely had to have his best friend, Eliza, join him. And what a momentous invitation that turned out to be. Eliza zeroed in on the violin at the Instrument Petting Zoo. She was glowing with anticipation as she patiently awaited her turn to hold a VIOLIN. And then, when the moment happened Eliza’s face, indeed her whole being, sparkled as she placed her tiny hands around the neck of the violin and was helped to nuzzle her delicate face onto the chinrest. And then – when the volunteer placed the bow in her hand and helped her create sound- she fell in love. The magic gripped her. And, the magic continues.
A few months later, when interviewed for her new school and asked if she plays a musical instrument Eliza responded, “Yes, I play the violin.” When asked where she replied, “At the River Oaks Country Club.” Ah, the confidence of magic. Hoping to turn that “technical reality” into a “reality” her dad bought Eliza a violin and signed her up for lessons.