Blooms and Baroque

Vivaldi and vino charm Houstonians at enchanted garden soirée

In a West University garden scented with jasmine and strung with twinkling lights, Prelude Music Foundation hosted its “Vivaldi in the Garden” soirée, transforming a quiet spring night into a multisensory celebration of music and meaning.

Hosts Sarrah and Jim Petersen opened the gates to their blooming backyard hideaway, where guests wandered through lush layers of hibiscus, hydrangeas, and milkweed before settling in under lantern-lit trellises. Chairs Caroline Reichert and Lauren Sanders curated a romantic tablescape of golden linens, music note napkins, and flickering votives—a nod to the night’s harmonic heart.

The evening’s highlight was an electrifying performance by a sextet from Mercury Chamber Orchestra, led by Jonathan Godfrey on solo violin. From Vivaldi’s Four Seasons to Piazzolla’s smoky Libertango, each piece shimmered with energy and soul. Ana Treviño Godfrey, co-founder of Prelude, spoke passionately about the cognitive magic of early music education, connecting the dots between melody and neurogenesis.

Adding playful charm? Grown-up musical chairs — live-scored, naturally — and the chance to “Take Home the Garden,” with blooms offered for donation. Guests clinked glasses of rosé and filled wine passports from four global vineyards, thanks to sommeliers from Everywine and nibbles from Hungry’s.

Funds raised will support Prelude’s programs at 13 underserved schools, plus Ronald McDonald House Charities and Casa de Esperanza.

Adding sparkle to the soirée were Rachel Regan, Steven Godfrey, Isabel David, Melanie Lawson, Carlos Treviño, Briana and Rachel Conner, Bernadette Verzosa and Len Cannon, Marsha and Michael Bourque, Caroline Le Feuvre and Jeff Shaddix, Lauren and Adam Selwyn, Julia and Michael Hiner, Mary Morgan and Reed Stevens, Gretchen and Ken Penny, Courtney and Jordan Chester, Martha Villanueva and Jordan Gross, Erika Westberry, Kimberly Borders, Katie Koenig and Doug Dirschl, Sarah and Christopher Lewis, Eli Levinowitz and Art Levinowitz, Tricia Monticello Kievlan, Atalia Castro and Chrystian Quinones, Jaime and Matt Titus, and Charlene and Tym Tombar.

Prelude Music Foundation Vivaldi in the Garden

Photo by Kit Peltier

Tym Tombar and Charlene Tombar.

fundraisers prelude music foundation

Party Watch

Contemporary Western art shines at Galveston museum fundraiser

Photo by Jacob McCready

Ryan Horton, Meredith Peebles, Taylor Crowder, Kara Przybyl McIver, and David McIver.

What: Art Untamed, A Night of Contemporary Western Art

Photo by Jacob McCready

Ryan Horton, Meredith Peebles, Taylor Crowder, Kara Przybyl McIver, and David McIver.

Where: The Lancaster Hotel

The Scoop: With cowboy boots traded for cocktail attire, more than 115 artists and art lovers moseyed into downtown for Art Untamed, an evening that lassoed the spirit of the West with a modern twist.

Now in its fourth year, the fundraiser benefiting The Bryan Museum was steered by a dedicated committee including Christine Glover, Linda and Bill Reeves, and Guylene and Jay Lendrum. The event spotlighted 32 Southwestern artists featured in the Visions of the West exhibit.

Guests sipped and mingled during cocktail hour, sizing up 73 pieces ranging from luminous landscapes to storytelling textiles. The live auction, led by crowd-favorite auctioneer Randolph Holford, delivered a flurry of paddles in the air, especially for Bob Stuth-Wade’s radiant Santiago Peak from Chalk Draw, Nathaniel Garza’s moody Three Reasons, and Echo Ukrainetz’s intricate batik honoring cowgirl trailblazer Lucy Mulhall.

The weekend kicked off at The Lancaster Hotel, where partner Jay Shinn hosted artists and VIPs at a reception in the historic property set to celebrate its centennial next year. During the festivities, museum founder JP Bryan captured the mood best.

“A collection is an expression of a soul; it speaks to where our heart is,” he said. “That is why the museum was founded, to share the important story of Texas and the American West through a world-class collection, outstanding exhibitions, and educational programming.”

The evening raised nearly $100,000 to support educational programming and outreach at The Bryan Museum.

Who: Lori Leal Wedemeyer and Barkley Wedemeyer, Sassy Stanton, Bill Pinckard, Mike Glover, Shara Fryer, Barry Silverman, Frank Rynd, Deborah and Monte Stavis, Kelly and Luis Zúñiga, Kara Przybyl McIver and David McIver, Dianne Reynolds, Stephanie and Brent Kindle, Penny and Townes Pressler, Linda and Jerry Dickson, Bob Leibrock, Paulina Padilla, Nocona Burgess, Vickie McMillan-Hayes, Ricardo Robles, and Bob Stuth-Wade.

museums fundraisers bryan museum visual-art