party watch

Sumptuous sounds and divine dance mark Houston Symphony's opening night

What: Houston Symphony Opening Night Concert & Gala

Where: Jones Hall and The Corinthian

The scoop: The Houston Symphony’s 2018-2019 Opening Night Concert & Gala, chaired by Donna and Max Chapman, raised more than $750,000 for the Houston Symphony’s Education and Community Engagement Programming. ConocoPhillips served as the Concert Sponsor and Lead Gala Corporate Underwriter for the 32nd year. Daniela and Manolo Sánchez served as honorary chairs.

A 275-key piano, stretching in front of the doors of Jones Hall, welcomed more than 1,000 guests as they made their way into the concert. The evening featured renowned pianist Yuja Wang. Conductor Gustavo Gimeno led the musicians of the Houston Symphony in a concert program that featured Ravel’s virtuosic concerto followed by Barber’s Overture to The School for Scandal.

The night of musical magic ended with Prokofiev’s vibrant, impassioned rendering of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Following the performance, 400 black-tie party-goers continued the evening at The Corinthian for a spectacular seated dinner catered by Jackson and Company.

The décor, created by The Events Company, focused on the musical aspect of the evening. Tables were dressed with black and silver reversible sequined linens adorned with centerpieces of red roses in black and white vases, like the keys of a piano.

Dinner began with La Salade Rue Saint-Benoit, a salad composed of green leaf lettuce, walnut halves, watermelon radish, frisee and walnut oil dressing, wedges of meadow creek dairy Grayson and Roquefort with a variety of toasts. The main course included filet mignon served with Béarnaise sauce and asparagus, tomato Provencal, roasted whole baby new potatoes and sliced baguettes. Accompanying the meal were wine pairings provided by Spec’s Wine, Spirits, & Finer Foods. The dessert was a chocolate piano filled with chocolate mousse and raspberry garnish.

The highlight of the evening was the auction of a new Steinway Spirio Model M piano signed by the star of the evening, Yuja Wang. Jo Dee and Cliff Wright walked away the winners of the prized possession.

The Royal Dukes Band then took the stage, commencing the late-night party that had guests dancing into the wee hours of the morning.

Who: Regina and John Mangum, Janet Clark, Margaret Alkek Williams, Courtney and Bill Toomey, Catherine and Brian James, Ralph Burch, Vicki West, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Cora Sue and Harry Mach, Joella and Steve Mach, Anne and Albert Chao, Jo Dee and Cliff Wright, De la Rey Venter and Rialda Venter, Reymundo Ocanas and Orlando Manzo-Ocanas, Katie and Bob Orr, Maureen Higdon, Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah, James Bell, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Gina and Devinder Bhatia, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, Farida Abjani, Kevin Black and Tony Bradfield, Alex and Daniel Gottschalk, Joanne King Herring, Rochelle and Max Levit, Alie and Dave Pruner, Jeff and Rachelle Ball.

Conductor Gustavo Gimeno leading Houston Symphony musicians.

Jenny Antill

Conductor Gustavo Gimeno leading Houston Symphony musicians.

fundraisers galas

Country Charm

Country star Mark Chesnutt boots up big fun for Houston nonprofit's bash

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Kat Pressly, Chelsea Collmer, and Julia Morales.

The boots were polished, the bourbon was flowing, and the dance floor stayed packed as more than 250 guests gathered at The Ballroom at Bayou Place for the Eighth Annual Kick Up Your Boots for Kids benefiting Dec My Room.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Kat Pressly, Chelsea Collmer, and Julia Morales.

The bash, chaired by Chelsea Collmer, welcomed Country star Mark Chesnutt‘s twang and toe-tapping energy. He performed a lively set that had even the most reserved guests two-stepping their way across the room. Founders Kendall Plank and Susan Plank joined the crowd in celebrating the night’s success, their smiles as bright as the rhinestones scattered throughout the ballroom.

Since its founding in 2007, Dec My Room volunteers have transformed more than 10,000 hospital rooms across 180 hospitals nationwide. The effort continues to grow, with requests up 30 percent this year alone. The organization’s impact has reached celebrity supporters too. Even Taylor Swift made a surprise visit to a Dec My Room setup in Tampa earlier this year.

The evening’s emcee and auctioneer David Ackel kept guests entertained with fast-paced bidding and lighthearted banter. Western chic ruled the dress code — think suede, sequins, and plenty of cowboy hats — while guests cooled off with cocktails from two ice bars.

Community Honorees Aimee and Wynne Snoots and Corporate Honorees Jen and Matt Brice of Federal American Grill were recognized for their ongoing generosity. The live auction drew some of the night’s biggest cheers, with top items including rare Pappy Van Winkle bourbon, a private three-day management hunt at Sycamore Springs Ranch with Kendall Plank, and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to throw the first pitch at a 2026 Astros game.

The celebration wrapped with tequila tastings from Loco Tequila and hand-rolled cigars courtesy of The Plank Companies, as longtime supporter Mike Plank looked on proudly from his front-row seat.

The event raised a record-breaking $400,000 to support the nonprofit’s mission of brightening hospital stays for pediatric and young adult patients.

All decked out were Stacey and Al Lindseth, Carley and Mike Stasney, Kat and Ryan Pressly, Laura Moore and Don Sanders, Laurie and Bret Sanders, Courtney and Zac Harmon, Gaye Lynn and Stuart Zarrow, Jody Merritt, Donna Lewis, Natalie and Shaun Hodge, Nina and Clint Rand, Tracy and Landon Ehlinger, Noelle and Ryan Strickland, Patrice and Robert Allinger, Lindsey Love, Brittany Tribble, Kory and Geoff Blum, George Foreman IV, Gina and Devinder Bhatia, Tom Butler, Ali and Haydeh Davoudi, Tammy and Stuart Spence, Grace and Steven Ward, Beth Rivera, Kiki Wilson, Jennifer Cope, and Brittany Tribble.

fundraisers dec my room