Unlike many other traditional North Texas fundraising activities, the annual Junior Symphony Ball (JSB) maintained its status as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s “longest running fundraiser.” Without losing a step, area teenagers managed to boot scoot through the 2020-2021 pandemic holding the mega gathering each year.
In 2020, the Texas tuxedo party took place on Saturday, February 1, at Gilley’s just before all heck broke loose. In late spring of this year, with COVID cases dwindling, the 2021 event commenced on Monday, June 7, at the Toyota Music Factory.
High school sophomores, junior and seniors from Alcuin School, Bishop Lynch High School, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, The Cambridge School of Dallas, Cistercian Preparatory School, Dallas International School, Episcopal School of Dallas (ESD), Greenhill School, Highland Park High School (HPHS), Hillcrest High School, The Hockaday School, Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, John Paul II High School, Lake Highlands High School, Parish Episcopal School (PES), Prince of Peace Christian School, Shelton School, St. Mark’s School of Texas, Ursuline Academy and Woodrow Wilson High School carried on the 59-year tradition of supporting the DSOL’s “music education programs for disadvantaged youth throughout North Texas.”
Last night the big reveal of the 2021 Junior Symphony Ball took place at Angela Jackson’s home. To the amazement of 2020-2021 DSOL President Anne Ligon and Dallas Symphony Orchestra President/CEO Kim Noltemy, a check for $238,456 was presented by JSB Co-Chairs Lili Kelly of ESD, Jake Robinowitz of St. Mark’s, Sam Jackson of Jesuit and Emma Sweeney of Ursuline.
Sam explained that some of the other co-chairs like Fletcher Calvert and Riley Calvert of ESD, Madison Muncy and Harrison Key of HPHS, Kate Wills of Hockaday and Abby Jackson of Parish, were unable to make it due to prior commitments.
As for the 2022 Junior Symphony Ball, Co-Chairs James Click of ESD, Ava Haberer of HPHS, Cade Jordan of Jesuit, Nicholas Koch of St. Mark’s, Peyton Plumlee of PES, Anne Rubi of Hockaday and Caroline Syler of Ursuline have already announced plans for the “State Of The Arts” to be held on Saturday, January 29, at Gilley’s. If you want to join the steering committee, check out the perks and plans here.
* Graphic courtesy of Junior Symphony Ball ** Photo credit: Carol Vig