Before sitting down to dinner on Thursday in the expansive lobby of the Hobby Center, patrons of the University of Houston Moores School of Music Society took their seats in Zilkha Hall for a little night music courtesy of the school.

For the society's 25th anniversary celebration, chairs Helen Shaffer and Phyllis Williams arranged for the Blue Static Saxophone Quartet to perform, for student singers Jared Guest and Nicole Woodward to sing and for faculty member mezzo-soprano Melanie Sonnenberg to entertain. Some would say that it was a delicious way to enjoy dessert before the dinner.

Once the applause for the entertainment had settled, Moores School director David Ashley White introduced the two honorees for the "Puttin' on the Glitz" gala — Beth Madison and Margaret Alkek Williams.

Then it was upstairs to the imposing Hobby Center lobby, where ceilings soar to reveal the city skyline that makes a most impressive backdrop for nighttime partying.

In an effort to shake up this traditionally quiet evening, the chairs brought in J&D Entertainment to provide a little night magic — a female acrobat, dressed in shimmering silver, performing overhead on two swaths of fabric. Deborah Duncan served as lively emcee. Judge Eric Andell handled duties on the big board. Mary Griffin shook up the dance floor with her center stage performance.

Playing leading roles in the evening were Society president Kathi Rovere and guests of honor Barbara and Leroy Hermes, Rhonda and Donald Sweeney and Betty and Jesse Tutor.

The party crowd included UH chancellor Renu Khator and Suresh Khator, Cornel Williams, Diane and Harry Gendel, Lora and Dr. John Clemmons, Philomena and Arthur Baird, Brenda and Mike McClure, Linda and John Barrett, Sally and Norman Reynolds, Barbara Van Postman, Omana and Sam Abraham, Merele Yarborough and Sallymoon Benz and Dr. Alan Bentz.