Houston Young Professionals Holiday Party With Style
Sweet Music and St. Nick Meet
By Catherine D. Anspon //
Photography Wilson Parish
What: Houston Symphony Young Associates Council Holiday Party
Where: BeDesign
PC Moment: At international home furnishings destination BeDesign, a Houston Symphony string quartet — violinists MuChen Hsieh and Annie Chen, Jarita Ng on the viola, and cellist Maki Kubota — between sets by DJ Matt Johns and a PA by St. Nick himself (bearing a stash of decorated cookies), made for a festive Yuletime fête. The evening in the gleaming interiors of the home-design Mecca, hosted by owners Adrián Dueñas and Marcelo Saenz and chairmen Carrie and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl, served as the holiday bash for the Houston Symphony Young Associates Council, drawing 120 culturally inclined music acolytes.
BeDesign generously gave back a portion of shopping proceeds to the performing-arts nonprofit. The highlight was a rousing rendition of Sleigh Ride, with musician Ian Mayton as percussionist conjuring the holiday standard’s buggy-whip sound.
Holiday Whos: Houston Symphony’s Molly Simpson; YAC co-chairs Ann Ayre and Jennifer Gravenor applauding new members Elaine and Jeff Hiller, Emily and Matt Fellows, and Amanda Hassler and Mark Stadnyk; Sofia Gambara; Flexform’s Antonella Cremonesi in from Chicago; Nina Delano with Wirt Blaffer (as in the Blaffer Art Museum); Mario Gudmundsson and Darrin Davis; Ken Christie of Creators and Collectors TV; and artist Justin Garcia on his way to Bali for the holidays/
Also making the musical mise en scène seen were Georgeta Teodorescu; Davide Mei with Anyela Herrera; Liana and Andrew Schwaitzberg; Valerie and Tracy Dieterich; Brian McCullough and Jeremy Garcia; Laurel Flores; Houston Center for Photography executive director Ashlyn Davis; Michael Baugh and Tim Ong; Michelle Stair and Carlos Sierra; Mary Clarkson of Avondale Food & Wine; Kirby and David Ludholz; Chris Goins Pazda who curates the MFAH’s retail; Victoria Ridgway; Sylvia and Mauro Ceotto; Aerin and Quentin Smith; artist Jacqueline Levine; Rebecca and Andrew Gould: Marcela Astralaga; photog Traci Ling; and BBVA Compass’ Rey Ocañas and Orlando Ocañas-Manzo.
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