Shelby's Social Diary

Houston Grand Opera's Concert of Arias searches for — and maybe finds — the next Renée Fleming

Each year, the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers culminates in a crescendo of music and a flurry of social activity as finalists in the national competition sing their hearts out for top prizes and slots in the Houston Grand Opera Studio. For opera fans, the Concert of Arias at Wortham Theater Center is one of the highlights of the social calendar and last week's fundraiser was no exception.

While the eight finalists competed/entertained with rounds of arias requested by the judges, audience members marked their ballots to select their favorite. Although the first place prize of $10,000 was awarded to soprano D'Ana Lombard, the People's Choice award of $1,000 went to soprano Amanda Woodbury, whom the judges awarded second place and a $5,000 check.

Selecting the winners were Houston Grand Opera artistic and music director Patrick Summers, managing director Perryn Leech and San Francisco Opera general director David Gockley, former director of HGO and founder of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. As the judges made their selection, the music continued, as is tradition, with a performance by studio members.

This 26th anniversary of the competition raised $750,000, earmarked for HGO and opera studio efforts to identify and nurture young opera talent. Applause, applause for Concert of Aria chairs Bobbie-Vee and Gerald Cooney, who presided over the evening that began with the concert before 900 guests and concluded with more than 625 sitting down for the black-tie dinner in the theater's Grand Foyer.

The sold-out dinner by Jackson and Co. honored Dian and Harlan Stai for their long-standing support of both the opera company and the studio.

The sophisticated dinner gathering included HGO boad chair Dr. John Mendelsohn and wife Anne, Glen Rosenbaum, Donna and Bob Bruni, Marcia and Alfredo Vilas, Beau Miller, Caroline Leech, Frances Marzio, Beth Madison and Ralph Burch, Brucie and Andy Moore, Nina and Edd Hindee, Jana and Scotty Arnoldy and Marianne and David Duthu.

Philip Bahr and Denise Bush Bahr at HGO Concert of Arias.

21 Philip and Denise Bahr at HGO Concert of Arias February 2014

Photo courtesy of © Wilson Parish Photography

Philip Bahr and Denise Bush Bahr at HGO Concert of Arias.

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Picnic Chic

Houston toasts nature and leadership at Memorial Park’s annual gala

Photo by Jenny Antil

Chris Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and Shellye Arnold.

There are gala nights and then there are nights when the trees themselves seem to raise a glass.

On a picture-perfect evening in April, nearly 350 supporters of Memorial Park Conservancy gathered beneath the native canopy of the Clay Family Eastern Glades for The Park Ball, an annual celebration of one of Houston’s greatest natural treasures.

Helping to orchestrate the evening’s blend of elegance and ecology was a roster of event chairs: Julie and Casey Doherty, Betsy and John Garibaldi, Gayle and Richard Hightower, Tammy and Steven Jenkins, Linda Lorelle and Lou Gregory, Gary Moss, Amy and Adam Newar, Carrie and Al Pepi, Carol and John Porter, and Anita and Gerald Smith.

This year’s theme, picnic-chic, was a love letter to the land, a heartfelt homage to the winding trails, sprawling green spaces, and sun-dappled prairies that define Memorial Park’s 1,100 acres. It was also a moment to reflect and to cheer as guests honored Shellye Arnold for more than a decade of leadership and welcomed Chris Ballard as the Conservancy’s newly named president and CEO.

It was springtime, elevated, and distinctly Houston.

Under Shellye Arnold’s guidance, Memorial Park transformed from a beloved local green space into a nationally recognized model of urban parkland — balancing ecological restoration with accessibility and beauty. Her departure was bittersweet, but the love in the air was undeniable. A proclamation from Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin officially declared April 10 as Shellye Arnold Day, applauding her tireless work in cultivating a park that serves both people and planet.

The evening flourished with the smooth sounds of the David Caceres Jazz Quintet, whose melodies floated through the canopy as guests strolled the illuminated paths or lingered beneath chandeliers that seemed to twinkle in time.

The night was also a fundraiser, of course — and a successful one. The Park Ball brought in a cool $750,000, every dollar of which will support the everyday magic of Memorial Park: Maintaining the native prairie grasses, protecting wildlife habitats, and ensuring this urban oasis remains a place of escape and exploration for generations of Houstonians.

In the crowd were Chris and Aubrey Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Veronica Chapa Gorczynski and John Gorczynski, Giles and Andrea Kibbe, Roxann and Tim Neumann, Rogene Gee Calvert, Emily Clay and Bill Schneidau, Kalinda Campbell, Kevin Foyle, Lissa and Farzanah Gangjee, Lisa Helfman, Elizabeth and Tom Howley, George Johnston and Jaime Loera, Chris Newport, Annise Parker, and Dhiren and Anila Shethia.

Photo by Jenny Antil

Chris Ballard, Nancy and Rich Kinder, and Shellye Arnold.

memorial park fundraisers