So who were the lucky ones on the guest list for the swank dinner party in the River Oaks home of Carla and Cole Dawson on Saturday night? That would be those writing the big checks as underwriters of the Houston Symphony Opening Night Concert & Gala, plus the rainmakers for the black-tie season-opener.

Headlining the musically-charged who's who were Linda and Gene Dewhurst, chairs of the Sept. 8 fundraiser; co-chairs Fran Fawcett-Peterson and Gloria Tenenbown; honorary chair Margaret Williams; and the evening's honorees Susan and Larry Kellner,Emerald Creek Group president and former Continental Airlines CEO.

Pianist Brandon Pafford, friend of the Dewhursts, filled the beautiful home with music while guests admired lavish floral arrangements by Jonathan Sageand sat down to Catering by Culinaire's Spanish-flavored menu, a nod to the opening night program featuring Ravel's Bolero. Caterer Barbara McKnight was on hand to insure perfection in the multi-course meal that featured crab cakes, short ribs, paella rice and dessert of café con leche semi-freddo.

Among the 50 guests having their batteries re-charged for the upcoming season were Betty and Jess Tutor, Monica Hartland and Salient Partners CEO John Blaisdell, Shanna and Andrew Linbeck, Kellye and Fred Williams, Jim Daniel, Meredith and Gene O'Donnell, Nancy and David Tai, Viviana and David Denechaud and Christina and Mark Hanson, Houston Symphony CEO.

Look for these and others to attend the Jones Hall concert, the launch of Hans Graf's final year as music director, and the gala dinner that follows at The Corinthian.