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.

Jerry and Bobbie-Vee Cooney, from left, and Dian and Harlan Stai at HGO Concert of Arias.

Photo courtesy of © Wilson Parish Photography

Jerry and Bobbie-Vee Cooney, from left, and Dian and Harlan Stai at HGO Concert of Arias.

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RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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