Golden Age of Hollywood Grips Houston In a $1.1 Million Night — This Symphony Ball Brings the Glitz
A Walk Of Fame, Four Chairs and a Buzzy Red Carpet
BY Shelby Hodge // 02.02.23
J&D Entertainment characters lend an old Hollywood air to the Houston Symphony ball. (Photo by Johnny Than)
The Golden Age of Hollywood theme set a dazzling stage for the Houston Symphony Ball, which amid glamour, glitz and thousands of red roses brought in $1.1 million for the lauded company’s coffers. In an unprecedented move, the gala was helmed by four chairs and honored three individuals.
Applause, applause for chairs Farida Abjani, Cheryl Boblitt, Brigitte Kalai and Bill King. Congratulations to honorees: longterm symphony patron, board member and volunteer Mary Lynn Marks, who along with husband Steve Marks have been symphony supporters for more than 30 years; Revati Puranik, co-owner and Global CFO of Houston-based Worldwide Oilfield Machine; and Hallie Vanderhider, one of Houston’s most generous philanthropists.
Of course, adding to the bottom line was the generosity of gala presenting sponsors Amerapex Corporation and Bashar and Brigitte Kalai. Auction chair Betty Tutor and her dedicated team contributed their share as well.
The black-tie ensemble of 400, many of the ladies definitely embracing a Hollywood glam style, was greeted by a phalange of faux old school Hollywood reporters and photographers, courtesy of J&D Entertainment, making the red carpet arrival a buzzy entrance for all.
We must applaud gala organizers of the symphony ball for keeping the program short and sweet, an insight embraced by top-tier nonprofits which understand that long speeches are preaching to the choir and boring to the audience.
All in all, it was a beautiful evening, visually thanks to The Events Company which created the decor. We loved the Hollywood Walk of Fame element in which the sponsors were spotlighted in stars along the side of the red carpet ballroom entrance. Once dinner was over, guests took to the dance floor to boogie to the sounds of Justin and the Swing Beats.
SHOP
PC Seen: Lindy and John Rydman, Steve Marks, Lisa and Eric Lindsay, Magaret Alkek Williams, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Bobbie Nau, Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, Janet Clark, Jesse Tutor, Steve Mach, Yoon Smith, Cynthia and Bucky Allshouse, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, Alice Mao Brams and Matt Brams, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, and Gretchen and Jay Watkins.
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