High notes

Fort Worth Symphony pulses with fresh new energy at Opening Night Celebration

Like a concert score that shifts tempo from adagio to vivace, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra opened its new symphonic season with some refreshing and unexpected vigor at both a concert and celebratory after-party on Friday, September 17.

First came the performance — aptly titled "Pulling Back the Curtain" — that finally welcomed an audience back to FWSO's home, Bass Hall, after a pandemic-season pseudo-residency at Will Rogers Auditorium. (Patrons obeyed a mask-wearing policy and respectfully kept their social distance in common areas.)

The concert was dedicated to beloved, recently passed FWSO president and CEO Ann Koonsman, whom principal violinist Adriana Voirin DeCosta remembered from stage as a champion of the organization and its musicians. "Her love, drive, and devotion to the Fort Worth Symphony, and especially the musicians, was magnified and exemplified by a confident, passionate energy sprinkled with a dose of really great sense of humor," DeCosta said.

In the night's next surprise, a screen descended from the ceiling, and composer Brian Raphael Nabors introduced his work Pulse in a pre-recorded video — a most modern communique in this modern Zoom age. Then 45-year-old guest conductor Kevin John Edusei led 32-year-old violinist Ray Chen and the orchestra (itself with several new, young and diverse players) in Sibelius' virtuosic Violin Concerto and Dvorak's rhapsodic Symphony No. 8.

After several curtain calls, FWSO's most ardent patrons zipped a few blocks to City Club for the official Opening Night Celebration. Hosted by chairman Mercedes T. Bass and the FWSO board of directors, the dinner and cocktail party honored Teresa King for more than two decades of service to the orchestra.

Symphony leaders, including CEO Keith Cerny and wife Jennifer, mingled and sipped champagne with musicians, including concertmaster Michael Shih and new assistant conductor Alex Amsel and Yvette Keong. Also spotted in the crowd, enjoying the post-concert afterglow, were Lisa Fortson, Kimbell Wynn, Frasher Pergande, John Pergande, Cornelia Blake, Cody McClarty, Rachel McClarty, Janine Geisel, Stas Chernyshev, Ann Hung, Ke-Hsuan Chen, Nick Sakakeeny, and Mariel Zuniga.

Andreas Bremer, honorary consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, and his wife, Nici, were special invited guests. Fresh from stage, Nabors, Chen, and Edusei took pictures with patrons; all guests had provided proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to attend.

After cocktails, guests dined on a buffet dinner that included sliced beef tenderloin, lamb chops, smoked salmon, a mashed potato bar, and a tower of mini desserts.

Bass presented King with the prestigious FWSO Medal of Excellence.

And Cerny revealed that the FWSO, thanks to generous donors and musicians, had been able to complete the pandemic season with a small operating surplus while maintaining staff and continuing to pay musicians.

"This is something, as we look back at the 100-year history of the Fort Worth Symphony, we can be incredibly proud of," he said.

The welcome announcement was met with cheers and applause, and guests left the evening looking forward to an exciting new season ahead. Onward to prestissimo!

Guest violinist Ray Chen and Teresa King, recipient of the FWSO Medal of Excellence.

Photo by Karen Almond

Guest violinist Ray Chen and Teresa King, recipient of the FWSO Medal of Excellence.

dinner symphony concerts galas

Hot-to-trot party

Former Fort Worth mayor helps corral big bucks at New Hope Equine gala

Photo by Savanna Romano

Betsy Price, Scott Murray

As the sun set over expansive pastures north of Fort Worth, hundreds of city slickers headed up to the country, to Lucky Spur Ranch Retreat in Justin for the 2024 Hope Gala.

Benefiting New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy, the October 25 fundraising party went all in on the horse theme, offering guests "A Night at the Races."

About 220 attendees arrived donning Derby hats and fascinators, bowties, fedoras, and cowboy boots - it was on a ranch after all, and not Churchill Downs. They mingled and posed with New Hope horses, browsed an impressive array of silent auction items, tossed horseshoes at whiskey bottles, and wet their whistles at an open bar alfresco.

When the dinner bell rang, folks moseyed inside and filled up on a buffet of Southwestern favorites, including beef skirt steak, grilled chicken, street corn, and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. Nothing Bundt Cakes provided enough cake bites to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Master of ceremonies, former NBC5 sports anchor Scott Murray, welcomed guests and acknowledged New Hope leadership, including gala event chair Jason Hodson.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Claire Messerle, Betsy Price, Katie MesserlePhoto by Savanna Romano

Moments later came a rousing "Howdy, y'all!" - the familiar greeting from former Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price, who served as the event's honorary chair. She underscored the importance of the organization's mission.

"New Hope isn't just a service, but it opens doors for those who think they don't have the strength, they don't have the courage or the connections to regain their sense of independence," she told the crowd.

Photo by Savanna Romano

Hope Gala honorary chair Betsy Price with emcee Scott Murray.

Since 2012, New Hope has been healing through therapeutic horsemanship for people of all ages with physical, intellectual, or developmental special needs. In 2022, they debuted the Natural Horsemanship program for veterans and first responders grappling with post-traumatic stress.

Funds raised at the gala support the “New Hope” that riders need for a better quality of life.

But the horses benefit, too. The majority of New Hope horses enjoy a second life with the organization; some were even on local kill lists.

"This is Texas, folks! We ride horses in Texas," Price concluded. "And every dollar that you give tonight or that you invest somewhere along the way will be doubled or tripled in the returns to these folks who need the therapy and the ones who work in the barns and help us."

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Guests bid in the live auction.Photo by Savanna Romano

Auctioneer Mike Trent got bidding going fast and furiously in a live auction for one-of-a-kind trips and experiences, including a vacation to Hilton Head (sold for $2,600), a dinner with several Dallas Cowboys legends (sold for $7,000), and a luxury suite concert experience at Dickies Arena (sold for more than $10,000).

In total, the gala raised $95,000 for New Hope programs.

"The annual cost to care for one horse runs about $6,000, so your generosity will help us care for our horses that provide vital therapy to our over 40 participants," organizers said afterwards.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Champagne Yacht Club Band kept the dance floor lively.Photo by Savanna Romano

As some guests wandered outside to enjoy the fresh nighttime air, others got moving and grooving on the dance floor to the sounds of the Champagne Yacht Club Band.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the night were New Hope patrons, staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters, including Hamilton Sneed, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Nicole Matwijiw, Jennifer Morris, Pat Fultz, Red Fultz, Devan Peplow, Kathleen Beisly, Emily Rogers-Hicks, Susan Altshuler, Lauren Cobb, Ashley Cox, Mikenley Johnson, Blake Johnson, Kathleen Alexander, Melissa Howard, Claire Messerle, Katie Messerle, Sharla Kershen, Dave Kershen, Jason Hodson, Aaron Sturman, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Neal Bondy, Paul Barstad, Melanie Barstad, Mark Powers, DeAnna Powers, Kim Martin, Darlene Jacobs, Jim Jacobs, Debbie Thayer, and hundreds more.