Old World Elegance: Symphony’s Viennese Ball a Beautiful, Million-Dollar Smash

THE SPRING SOCIAL season is off with a crescendo! On a chilly night in late January, one of Houston’s most elegant and memorable galas, the annual Symphony Ball, boasted a white-tied crowd of 400 at The Post Oak Hotel — not to mention at till of more than $1 million for the company’s community engagement initiatives. Talk about a high note!

The theme was all Old World opulence — Vienna Fête Impériale. “Fashioned by Richard Flowers of The Events Company, the décor perfectly blended Vienna’s and America’s culture with crystal chandeliers, candelabras and tables covered in custom linens filling the room with varying sizes of floral arrangements, all assorted shades of pink,” noted a Houston Symphony rep. Special entertainment included professional ballroom dancers performing — what else? — the Viennese waltz.

Dinner was as posh as the environs. The menu highlighted a grilled radicchio Caesar salad, roasted filet mignon with demi-glace and potato puree, and, for dessert, tiramisu with amaretto cream. After the meal, guests crowded the dance floor as Q the band played a mix of standards, Motown and other party faves.

The ball was chaired by Tammie Johnson and physicians Charles Johnson, Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams. The honorees, all glittering and grateful, were recognized; they included Brigitte and Bashar Kalai, Sippi Khurana, and Betty and Jesse Tutor, the latter feted for lifetime achievement. Other VIPs afloat in the ballroom included Margaret Alkek Williams, Joanne King Herring, Hallie Vanderheider, Bobbie Dees, Kristy Bradshaw, Daniel Irion, Kirk Kveton, John and Lindy Rydman, Reggie and Paula DesRoches, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, and Alicia Smith.

Betty and Jesse Tutor

Brigitte and Bashar Kalai

Co-Chairs Dr. Charles and Tammie Johnson and Drs. Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams

Dancers performing Viennese Waltz

Bill Stubbs and Kurt Grether

Dr. Alice Mao Brams, Ann Ayre and Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell

Hallie Vanderheider and Bobby Dees;

Joanne King Herring and John Magnum

Kristy Bradshaw and Carey Kirkpatrick

Margaret Alkek Williams and John Mangum

Quentin and Aerin Smith

Ralph Burch and Vicki West

Sippi and Ajay Khurana