Thirty-two Dallas debutantes made their debut on February 9, showing off their best Texas dip in front of an appreciative crowd at the 33rd annual Presentation Ball, held at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.
Benefiting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League and chaired by Carla Leffert, Dixey Arterburn, Ginger Sager, and Annell Williams, with honorary chairs Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller and DSOL president Lisa Loy Laughlin providing support, the ball was a night of white-hot celebration.
After being escorted offstage by members of the Honor Guard, the debs took to the dance floor in the Meyerson's lobby with the Jordan Kahn Orchestra. An elegant, three-course meal awaited the tables set in the lobby and mezzanine, and guests could admire the official debutante portraits by James French near the entrance.
The Presentation Ball was first held in 1987 and is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. Over $11 million has been raised for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the annual event, which was created with the vision of long-time League member Tincy Miller, who chaired the first ball.
Generations of past Ball participants mingled in the crowd, such as 2019 deb Hattie Newton's mother Mary Casey and aunt Donna Casey, who were debutantes for the inaugural ball, and her aunt Lisa Casey, who was presented a few years later. Megan Molthan's mother Heather Molthan and her aunt Wendy Smith are both former debutantes.
Michael McCullough Sr., who founded the Honor Guard in 1987, was on hand with son Michael McCullough Jr. (who is a past Honor Guard) to watch grandson Mac McCullough serve this year.
The 2019 debutantes are Maddie Basso, Katy Callewart, Carly Cooper, Savannah Crow, Avery Davis, Katherine Fraser, Kathleen Gamso, Kate Gioldasis, Natalie Groves, Gracie Hunt, Mary Margaret Jaynes, Alix Lippincott, Georgia McGill, Elizabeth McIlyar, Megan Molthan, Elizabeth Moore, Caroline Mulligan, Coco Murchison, Hattie Newton, Mindy Osler, Cassandra Polley, Elizabeth Reid, Anna Robertson, Lily Schiff, Lauren Schnitzer, Livy Scott, Nicole Smith, Emily Stone, Samantha Sullivan, Sally Wade, Ava Wall, and Whitney Wheeler.
Founded in 1946, the mission of the DSOL is to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education, and fundraising activities. Since 1998, the League has contributed over $16 million in support of the Dallas Symphony Association's community outreach and education programs, which help bring the wonder of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to thousands of youths and adults in the Dallas area.
Mary Newton, Laughlin Newton, Hattie Newton, Rosser Newton
Fly By Midnight.Photo by John Strange, Selig Polyscope Company
Carter Brown.Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo
Landon Richie.Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo
Liliana Villarreal, Kelley Robinson, Brandon Wolf, Dustin Vyers.Photo by Bryan Chatlien, Chatlien Photo
Cynt MarshallPhoto by John Strange, Selig Polyscope Company
Jason Lamoreaux and Black Tie Dinner beneficiaries.Photo by John Strange, Selig Polyscope Company