Symphony Presents ‘Big’ Glamorous Night of Music and Philanthropy

Priscilla Dickson & Daniel Ortiz
Symphony Presents ‘Big’ Glamorous Night of Music and Philanthropy

Phoebe and Bobby Tudor

IT WAS A big night for the Houston Symphony. Not only was it the annual Opening Night Concert and Gala, chaired this year by Susan and Dennis Carlyle, but it was also the official first performance of Juraj Valčuha as the symphony’s 16th music director.


And the music was big. The concert presentation of Verdi Requiem drew on the full orchestra, guest opera stars including Houston’s Ana María Martínez and others from around the world, and a large 100+-person choir.

After dinner, per Symphony custom, patrons including Margaret Alkek Williams, Bobby and Phoebe Tudor, and Betty and Jess Tutor piled onto luxury buses and made their way to the grand Corinthian event space nearby for a lavish dinner. “The décor, created by The Events Company, transformed the space with crystal chandeliers and greenery cascading across the balcony,” cooed a rep for the organization. “Tables, covered in green linens, filled the room and were topped with varying high and low floral arrangements in shades of white and green.”

Dinner included salad with shrimp terrine, gremolata-and-breadcrumb-crusted cod, with profiteroles and hazelnut macaroons for dessert. The David Caceres Band played for a lively dancefloor afterward.

The Symphony announced it had raised $540,000 on Opening Night for its education and community-engagement efforts.

Alan and Elizabeth Stein, Bobbie Nau, Marc Grossberg

Alex Blair, Jennifer Roosth, Katherine Warren

Barbara Burger, Dom and Stephanie Beveridge

Betty and Jesse Tutor

Brittany Clark, Mario Gudmundsson

Cheryl Buyington

Dee and Lea Hunt

Dennis & Susan Carlyle, John Mangum

Heather Almond

James and Kimberly Bell

Houston Symphony Opening Night Gala

John Mangum, Margaret Alkek Williams, Juraj Valčuha

Robert and Joan Duff

Scott and Geraldine Wise

Tony and Frances Buzbee

Yoon Smith, Malaika Mukoro, Heidi Rockecharlie

Parties

JD Adamson & Tony Gibson, Realtors®️ at Douglas Elliman Real Estate

WHAT IS THE secret to a successful real estate business? Clear communication, reconciling requirements with desires, and preemptively managing expectations are paramount to a win-win deal. There is an art to predicting clients’ wants before they do; deep listening is a key ingredient. Behind-the-scenes efforts often mitigate client anxiety levels more than outward actions — avoid an urge to wear the hustle like a badge. It’s okay to work harder than it appears you do. They don’t have to see you sweat. Keep egos in check and empathy levels high. Make room for openness. Do business with friends and protect their money. The deck is stacked in our client’s favor when objectives are clear and goals are stated. A compromise is not a defeat; it is an elegant solution. Always aim for a win-win deal; if that isn’t viable, you must win.

Keep Reading Show less

Bianca Bucaram, Founder and President of The Bucaram PR Group

BIANCA BUCARAM, THE the founder and president of The Bucaram PR Group, is a powerful force in today’s public relations industry. She’s passionate about telling peoples’ stories, fostering business opportunities and garnering regional, national and global connections for her clientele.

Keep Reading Show less