If ever North Texas needed a little music, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is going to provide it. The staff has been busy charging ahead with plans for the fall and winter with some big fundraising events. And they’ve even tweaked them to be social-distancing-friendly.
First on the calendar will be the annual Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala on Saturday, September 12, at the Meyerson. It will be Louise W. and Edmund J. Kahn Music Director Fabio Luisi’s first DSO Gala. Instead of shipping in a featured performer, Co-Chairs Andy Smith and Paul Von Wupperfeld have arranged for the DSO musicians to be the centerpiece presenting some of the most famous orchestral music from the world of opera.
Joining Andy and Paul in leading the symphonic fundraiser will be Honorary Co-Chairs Mary and Rich Templeton.
But this year’s Gala is going to be streamlined. The evening will kick off with the performance followed by a seated dinner. That means the cocktail reception will be missing and the after-party will take place at a point later in the season.
Returning for the holidays will be the Second Annual C-Suite Christmas on Wednesday, December 9. It was such a hit last year with area business leaders taking part on stage at the Meyerson with the DSO that Event Chair Amy Carenza has arranged for this year’s crop of executives to include Billingsley Company Founder/Partner Lucy Billingsley, Americas Strategic Holdings LLC Chair Steve Durham, Hall Group Chair/Founder Craig Hall and Roberts Trucking Inc. CEO Quincy Roberts to appear.
Steve will be doing double duty. In addition to his being part of the C-Suite artists, a scholarship for the DSO’s education program will be named in his honor recognizing “his incredible contributions to North Texas.”