JSB Steering Committee Tickets on Sale Now

Meet the 2025 Junior Symphony Ball Co-Chairs

Mark your calendars for a night of music and dancing on Saturday, February 1, 2025, as the Junior Symphony Ball takes over the iconic Gilley's Dallas for an evening of fun and entertainment.

Steering Committee tickets are on sale now and available  online at www.dallassymphonyleague.com.

Two price levels will be available:

• Steering Committee 1 – $395.00 - One Steering Committee Membership with required parent/guardian DSOL 6/1/23-5/31/24 membership (includes 1 JSB ticket)
• Steering Committee 1 & VIP – $495.00 - One VIP ticket & Steering Committee Ticket (dedicated entrance at JSB for VIP ticket holders)

General admission tickets will be available in January, 2025 for $175. 

The JSB is the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League's longest running fundraiser now in its 67^th year. It is a student-led event that unites high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors for a night filled with live music, dance, gaming tables, exciting raffle prizes, and refreshments. Funds raised benefit education and community engagement programs of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  

The lineup of the 2025 Co-Chairs represents schools across Dallas: Tanner Krug, Jesuit College Prep of Dallas; Gracelyn Nix, Highland Park High School; Jack Steed, Highland Park High School; Clara Tolleson, Episcopal School of Dallas; Johnny Willingham, Episcopal School of Dallas; Emerson Mayes, Bishop Lynch High School; Teddy Fleiss, St. Mark's School of Texas; Avery Black, Ursuline Academy; Zack Shapiro, Parish Episcopal School; and Kate Davidson, The Hockaday School. 

Their supportive and proud moms are: Holly Krug, Jonika Nix, Maygen Steed, Rebecca Black, Jojo Fleiss, Tricia Davidson, Amie Mayes, Kacy Tolleson, April Willingham, and Jori Shapiro.

For further information: www.dallassymphnyleague/com.

An Exciting Tradition Continues

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League's Debutante & Honor Guard Casino Party unfolded in all its splendor at the elegant Arlington Hall on July 19th. The Debs and Honor Guard came together for an evening of dinner, casino games, and dancing.

Presentation Ball co-chairs Ginger Sager and Barbara Averitt greeted each arriving guest with gracious smiles and heartfelt welcomes.

“The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is honored to have a close group of established and respected families of the Dallas community support our mission through our presentation ball,” said event chair Claire Catrino. “Our casino party is the culmination of many summer events and an additional way we celebrate our debutantes, honor guard, families, and sponsors.”

The Debutantes, Honor Guard, and their families were treated to an evening filled with an array of cocktails setting the perfect tone for the festivities, followed by a generous buffet dinner.

At the appointed time, the Debutantes gathered outside for a group photo alongside an elegant Aston Martin provided by event sponsor Avondale Dealerships.

The guests’ attire for the evening ranged from short cocktail dresses to long evening dresses. Black tie for the gentleman allowed room for some lighthearted fun such as the watermelon print bow tie worn by Honor Guard Matthew Laza. Mitchell Ward, father of Debutante Samantha Ward,  was the star of the evening when he arrived sporting his cowboy hat and bright red ostrich cowboy boots.

The spotlight shifted to the musical entertainment Ice House Band, one of Dallas's most dynamic and electrifying party bands.

Guests in attendance included Linda Gilmore, Kristi and Ron Hoyl, Beth and Garner Newton, Jennifer and Taylor Stone, Niki and Randall Turner, and Catherine Gravel.

Closing announcements were made and the raffle prize winners names were drawn. Grand Prize winner was Dakota Richardson who received a certificate from Avondale Dealerships for a chauffeured driven evening in his choice of either a Bentley Bentayga or Aston Martin DBX SUV and dinner for two at Mister Charles.

Additional sponsors for the evening were PaperCity and Mister Tuxedo.

One of the many beneficiaries of the Presentation Ball’s proceeds is the Young Strings program which has seen numerous participants go on to be admitted to renowned and esteemed higher learning institutions.

The countdown has begun for the Debutantes' highly anticipated debut at the 39th Annual Presentation Ball, an iconic event set to unfold on February 15th, 2025, at the prestigious Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

Photos by Gittings and Deborah Brown

Dallas Symphony Orchestra League (DSOL) President Nancy Labadie presented a check for $1,250,000 to Kim Noltemy, Ross Perot President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. at the DSOL’s Finale Tea and Awards at Royal Oaks Country Club. 

“We are so proud to give our annual donation to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to further their innovative and essential Education and Community Outreach programs,” said Nancy.

This substantial donation was made possible by the extraordinary efforts of fundraising Chairs and their teams: Laura Price, Jada Mowles, Suzanne Austin, Kristin Cordiak, Nikki Beneke, and Joanie Stephens. The four major fundraisers contributing to the total amount are the Presentation Ball, Junior Symphony Ball, Savor the Symphony and Fashion Notes Designer Award and Luncheon.

“Thank you for your friendship and support through this year,” said Nancy. “It has been a privilege to serve alongside each of you as we raise awareness and support for our beloved Dallas Symphony Orchestra and their incomparable Education and Community Outreach Programs. I could not be more proud of what we have accomplished together.”

Founded in 1946, the DSOL continues to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through dedicated service, education, and fundraising activities. Since 1998, the League has contributed over $23 million to the Dallas Symphony Association’s Community Outreach and Education programs, bringing the magic of the symphony to thousands of young people and adults across the Dallas Metroplex.

66^th Annual Junior Symphony Ball

Sold out “Purpose With a Party”

Raises $497,000  for music and education programs

The total dollars were tallied for the 66th Annual Junior Symphony Ball (JSB) “Purpose with a Party” fundraiser, and a tremendous sum has been raised by the students. On behalf of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, a gigantic check in the record-breaking amount of $497,000 was presented to Nancy Labadie, DSOL President, and Terry Loftis, Chief Advancement and Revenue Officer of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. 

JSB is the second largest fundraiser for the DSOL and this year, has broken the mold and taken this fundraiser to a new level in money raised. 

The event on January 27th at the iconic Gilley’s Dallas witnessed a historic milestone with an unprecedented attendance of over 2,700 high school students from 35 schools. Tickets for fundraiser sold out within an hour of their release with hundreds more on the waitlist. This outstanding turnout set a new record as the largest in the event's history. The Steering Committee, comprising more than 800 students, played a pivotal role in orchestrating the evening's success. 

From start to finish, the committee undertook the task of organizing logistics, planning activities, and implementing crowd control measures to guarantee the enjoyment of the vast gathering. The check-in went smoothly handling the process efficiently for the hundreds of students that came through. Over 200 supportive parent volunteers helped to staff the evening. It culminated in a high-energy and memorable extravaganza for the staggering number of high school students in attendance.  

The lineup of the 2024 Event Co-Chairs represents schools across Dallas: Cara Lichty, Episcopal School of Dallas; James Sutherland, St. Mark's School of Texas; Kate Fagan, The Hockaday School; Cash Nix, Highland Park High School; Ela Austin, Ursuline Academy; Ashton Krug, Jesuit College Prep of Dallas; Adelaide Boisture, Parish Episcopal School; Baker Trent, Bishop Lynch High School; Caroline Woram, Highland Park High School.

Their supportive and proud moms are: Suzanne Austin, Jenny Lichty, Ashley Boisture, Jonika Nix, Dana Woram, Holly Krug, Lauren Sutherland, Aimee Fagan, and Katy Trent.

The JSB brought together high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors across the metroplex to celebrate with an evening filled with energetic live music, dynamic dancing, professionally staffed gaming tables, raffles, prizes and refreshments. 

“What makes JSB so special is this is the only party in town that every high school Sophomore through Senior is invited to attend,” said JSB 2024 Co-chair, Suzanne Austin. “These precious students are sometimes friends through social media, sports or school activities but this is the only time they can all come and spend an organized fun evening together.  This unique opportunity for our kiddos combined with raising money for an incredibly worthy cause is the right recipe for spectacular evening! My co-chairs and I are so appreciative of the overwhelming support from the parents, students, community businesses and underwriters that made this event so incredibly successful.”

From start to finish, the committee undertook the task of organizing logistics, planning activities, and implementing crowd control measures to guarantee the enjoyment of the vast gathering. The check-in went smoothly handling the process efficiently for the hundreds of students that came through. Over 200 supportive parent volunteers helped to staff the evening. It culminated in a high-energy and memorable extravaganza for the staggering number of high school students in attendance.

“This is an event that my friends and I look forward to all year, so when asked if I wanted to be a part of planning it and be a co-chair, I was definitely on board,” said JSB student co-chair, Ela Austin. “My student co-chairs and I all do community service through our schools, but this was an opportunity for us to go beyond our schools and into the community and be a part of something bigger. This was something that was important to each one of us and was our way to help the Dallas Symphony and help the Youth Programs that JSB supports.”

Sponsors include Mr. Tuxedo, Jenny Watts Photography, Competitive Cameras, Sewell, Veritex Community Bank, Highland Park Village, The Sidley Austin Foundation, and Stewart and Arango.

JSB is in its 66th year and is the longest running fundraiser of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League (DSOL), supporting DSO outreach programs such as the Young Strings program and the Young Musicians program. It was founded with the concept of “student-led, parent-guided” leadership. While JSB has evolved in scope and participation size, it has always been a high school student fundraising event for the DSO hosted by area 10^th-12^th grade high school students and their parents. JSB has grown over the decades from just a handful of participating schools to over 35 this year.  

Photo by Suzanne Austin

Key to photo

Cash Nix, Ela Austin, Caroline Woram, Nancy Labadie, Terry Loftis, Cara Lichty, Ashton Krug, Baker Trent, Suzanne Austin

Long time friends Dixey Arterburn and Ginger Sager, known as Thelma and Louise, are back together – just changing roles. In 2014 Ginger was President of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and Dixey chaired the Presentation Ball. This year they will work together again, but the roles are reversed. Dixey will be the League President beginning in June and Ginger Sager will chair the Presentation Ball Chair scheduled for February 15, 2025. 

The Dynamic Duo is known as Thelma and Louise because of their close friendship. One is hardly seen without the other. 

Ginger recalls that at the end of planning the ball, “Jan Strimple, who was involved in the production of the event, greeted us at one meeting with, ‘It’s Thelma and Louise!,’ and it stuck. At the last ball rehearsal, we wore t-shirts with Thelma and Louise printed on them. We don’t need to wear nametags anymore!”

They love chairing events together. Thelma and Louise have worked together on many events including the Salvation Army Luncheon, Mardi Gras-St. Michael and All Angels Church, and Beacon of Hope Luncheon.

“We will have so much fun together – welcoming the new debs and their families and raising money for the DSO,” said Dixey. “We want all the families to enjoy and remember this special year.”

When this dynamic duo met in 2012, they realized they had a lot in common. They were both members of St. Michael and All Angels Church, Junior League and the DSOL. They became great friends, and now their families are friends too.

Save the date: 39th Annual Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball will be held on Saturday, February 15. As details become available, they will be posted on the League’s website www.dallassymphonyleague.com.