As Its Youth Orchestra Wows Galagoers, Virtuosi Honors Healthcare Heroes

Daniel Ortiz
As Its Youth Orchestra Wows Galagoers, Virtuosi Honors Healthcare Heroes

Carl Hahn, Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman and, Bob Bowman

TWO CAUSES OF utmost importance to Houston were celebrated at a single event: At its annual gala, Virtuosi of Houston, an orchestra comprised of young musicians, honored the city’s healthcare heroes.


The evening, held at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Medical Center, featured performances by the young musicians directed by the group’s founding Artistic Director and Conductor Andrzej Grabjec. Everyone received a standing ovation, of course.

Physician C. Richard Stasney, who founded the Texas Voice Center 30 years ago and serves as a consulting otolaryngologist for HGO, the Alley and TUTS, was among the honorees. Texas Children’s Hospital’s James Versalovic was also recognized for his dedication and commitment throughout the pandemic. And the Innovator Award was presented to Monzer Hourani, who founded Medistar Corporation and invented the Biodefense Indoor Air Protection System.

Chairs Cheryl Byington and Beth Wolff were thrilled with the night’s total till, which topped $180,000 and will go toward ensuring that all young performers will receive opportunities to grow to their full potential at Virtuosi, regardless of race, religion or financial status.

Andrzej Grabiec

The student orchestra

Bharti and Rani Puranik

Susan and Denis DeBakey

Bill Stubbs and Cynthia Wolff

Andrew and Rochelle Deiso

Myrtle Jones and Ashley Brooks

Chad Birken and Lauren Pham

Linda Wiley and David Addickes

Cheryl Byington, James Versalovic , Richard Stasney and Beth Wolff

Gaby Graubart and Gabriela Smith

Leslie Siller and Mary Fusillo

Parties
With Expertise in Blondes, Extensions and More, the Janelle Alexis Team Is a Go-To Salon

YOU CAN'T LIMIT Janelle to one title – Hairdresser. Her career and business has been established and built on a strong foundation. Using her two business degrees + one more in-process, this enables Janelle and the team to deliver not only a customer-focused experience, but a foundationally solid business. There is much more than meets the eye, and in sharing a little bit about Janelle, she was not only an international hair extension educator for over 14 years, but brings extensive expertise to blondes. She rounds this out with her previously launched namesake cosmetic line, which is a perfect complement to her belief that “Beauty is our Business”.

Keep Reading Show less

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

Keep Reading Show less

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less