Inside the Symphony's Million-Dollar Musical Evening

Inside the Symphony's Million-Dollar Musical Evening

Beth Wolff, Janet Clark, Bill Stubbs and Cheryl Byington

THE WORD OF the night at the 2022 Symphony Ball was “harmony.” The music was melodious, the company was congenial, and the perfectly paired plates and wines were delicious. Not to mention, the actual theme of the Ball was “The Symphony World in Harmony."


Although not quite as populous as pre-Covid times, the annual gala was attended by nearly 350 well heeled guests, who arrived at The Post Oak Hotel serenaded by The Dave Bennet Quartet. The evening recognized Margaret Alkek Williams and Janet F. Clark for their longtime philanthropic contributions and CEO John Mangum for his artful leadership.

Before a dinner created by Executive Chef Jean-Luc Royere — complete with wine pairings courtesy of Lindy and John Rydman of Spec’s — guests perused the silent auction, and later enjoyed a special acoustic performance by rockstar Sammy Hagar and his guitarist Vic Johnson.

The event — attended by Alex and Reagan Bregman, Tony Buzbee and oil-biz heavy-hitters — also celebrated a bittersweet season for the Symphony, which will bid adieu to Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada later this year.

More than $1.1 million was raised to further the Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement programs, which bring the joy of music into schools and hospitals all over the region.

Beth Zdeblick and Hallie Vanderhider

Tammie and Charles Johnson

Aisha Jokhio, Yoon Smith and Alice Mao Brams

Betty Tutor and Ann Ayre

Susan and Denis DeBakey

Eric and Lisa Lindsey

Gabriella and Eduardo Berain with Lydia Gold

Sheridan and John Eddie Williams

Gwen McMurry, Carey Kirkpatrick, Lil Kades and Megan Ryan

Reagan Bregman and Heather Almond

Lindy and John Rydman

Kevin Black and Tony Bradfield

John and Regina Mangum

Leslie Siller

Parties
Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less

WITH HOLIDAY PARTIES and festive dinners galore this time of year, it’s officially Champagne season! Artisans is celebrating with a special bubbly dinner paired with sips from famous Champagne house Moet Chandon Winery on Thursday, November 14.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

HOLIDAY CHEER IS coming to Bandista, the Four Seasons hotel’s swanky speakeasy, in the form of a fun collab with Nashville bar Four Walls.

Keep Reading Show less
Food