Matthew McConaughey Lights Up the Houston Symphony’s Most Patriotic Night, Bringing Real Star Power To a Rare Tripleheader

With an assist from Matthew McConaughey, the Houston Symphony launched its season with a patriotic flourish — a celebration that extended from a pre-performance cocktail clutch on Lynn Wyatt Square to the stellar concert at Jones Hall to a lavish dinner soirèe at Corinthian Houston.

The focus of the Opening Night Concert and Gala celebration centered around the United State’s 250th anniversary, grandly commemorated in program, decor and enthusiasm of the 450 guests who donned black-tie for the three-tiered evening.

The McConaughey influence was evident from the red carpet get-go with servings of signature cocktails featuring Camila and Matthew McConaughey’s Pantalones Organic Tequila served in the Lynn Wyatt Pavilion along with champagne and hors d’oeuvres.

The University of Houston’s Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band ignited the festivities, rocking the plaza with a lively selection of musical favorites, a performance that concluded with a Second Line style parade leading partygoers across Louisiana Street to the theater.

For many, highlight of the concert of all-American music was McConaughey’s narration of  Aaron Copland’s iconic Lincoln Portrait, featuring the actual words of Abraham Lincoln drawn from his letters and speeches, including his Gettysburg Address.

For others, the performance of Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard turned out to be the highlight. She sang through a repertoire that included music from Gershwin, Sondheim and Bernstein. The inspiring program was the work of principal POPS conductor Steven Reineke, who held the baton on this evening.

Leading the contingent were concert and gala dinner chairs Joella and Steve Mach, generous and dedicated Houston Symphony supporters. Under their stewardship, the evening raised more than $850,000, the highest net proceeds in the history of the Symphony’s Opening Night Gala. Funds will support the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement initiatives and artistic programming.

The evening also marked the 40th consecutive year that ConocoPhillips served as Concert Sponsor and Lead Corporate Gala Underwriter.

Throughout the evening decor of red, white and blue gave nod to the 250th celebration theme that permeated Jones Hall and continued at Corinthian Houston where guests were welcomed for the post-concert dinner by the costumed Alexander Hodge Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

City Kitchen delivered the expected commendable dinner served on tables dressed in red, white and blue. As is tradition, wine pairings were provided by Lindy and John Rydman and Lisa Rydman Lindsey of Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods.

The evening concluded with surprise performances by the University of Houston Moores School of Music Concert Chorale of “Shenandoah” and “America the Beautiful” that inspired the audience to stand in honor of the patriotic evening.

PC Seen: Barbara and Pat McCelvey, Gary Ginstling and Marta Lederer, Margaret Alkek Williams, Dr. Sippi and Ajay Khurana, Janet F. Clark, Barbara J. Burger, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Elia and Michael Gabbanelli, Ann and Jonathan Ayre, Beth Madison, Katie and Bob Orr, Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, Mary Lynn Marks, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, and Devorah and David Krieger.