Gowns and courtseys were all the rage as 35 Symphony Debutantes took their bows at the 31st Annual Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball on February 18 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The spotlight was on the debs, their families and dapper members of the Honor Guard. 

Jolie Humphrey served as Ball Chair and Sandy Secor is President of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League. The Honorary Chairs were Harriett and Chuck Gibbs. 

The Debutante season started with an announcement party in May and ended with the Ball on Feb 18. It is a whirlwind season of numerous parties and events and rehearsals for the famous Texas Dip. 

Guests at the Ball included Tincy Miller who founded and chaired the first ball. She was happy that the tradition has continued and future supporters of the Symphony are nurtured through the event. This year’s ball featured a second generation debutante when Madeline Hendrick was presented. Her mom Lucy Meyers-Lambert made her debut at the inaugural ball in 1987. 

The 2017 debutantes are: Layne Anderson, Lauren Axmann, Grace Beal, Eva Blanton, Lilli Boren, Olivia Burnett, Haley Bush, McKenna Cook, Gabrielle Crank, Alicia Crenshaw, Caroline Downing, Marina Frattaroli, Perrin Griffin, Heather Hall, Madeline Hendrick, Caroline Jones, Ellie King, Catherine Kumpf, Abby Loncar, Caroline Magee, Cameron Malakoff, Ashlyn Matthews, Juliana McIlveene, Natalie Monger, Aspen Moraif, Elle Moritz, Molly Nelson, Caroline Pratt, Allison Rogers, Betsy Smith, Mary Leila Stillman, Bailey Turfitt, Georgia Ryan Tyler, Emily Vaughan, Isabel Yoder. The Presentation Ball is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. 

The Presentation Ball is expected to raise over $400,000. More than $10 million has been raised in support of the Dallas Symphony Association and its education and community outreach programs. Some of the quality outreach programs the League supports are: Youth Concert Series, Artists Educate, Young Strings and Music Memory along with community concerts and performances. 

Photos by James French Photography