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    Diana's Social Diary

    Elegant Dallas Symphony Orchestra gala resonates long after final note

    Diana Oates
    Sep 19, 2016 | 6:00 am

    Every year the Dallas Symphony Orchestra hosts the first official gala of the fall, as a way to get its patrons excited about the season to come. But the 2016 soiree had special significance, because conductor Jaap van Zweden announced earlier this year that he is leaving the DSO for a post at the New York Philharmonic.

    The importance of this was not lost on gala chairs Marena and Roger Gault and honorary chair Sherwood Wagner, who welcomed well-heeled DSO patrons to the Meyerson Symphony Center on September 16 for an evening of unforgettable music and good times.

    Attendees — including Kara and Randall Goss, Rhonda and Fraser Marcus, Barbara and Don Daseke, Lisa and Clay Cooley, Ross Perot, Lynn McBee, Nancy Nasher, and David Haemisegger — posed for pictures, greeted friends, and sipped on glasses of bubbly while waiting for the dinner bell to sound. After dining on a delicious meal by Culinaire International, music lovers filed into the performance hall for the official program.

    It began with a public ceremony to honor Sanford I. Weill for his incredible contributions to arts and education in the United States. Weill, who was in from New York City, is chairman emeritus of Citigroup and CEO of Casa Rosa Ventures. He served as the chairman of Carnegie Hall for 24 years before retiring.

    Humbly accepting a standing ovation, Weill stressed the importance of keeping arts education in public schools, with the help of the private sector. He also commented that the evening’s star performer, Chinese concert pianist Lang Lang, is to classical musical what Jordan Spieth is to golf.

    The headliner was the most involved musical guest in recent memory, performing with the DSO from start to finish, including selections from both Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. He even played multiple piano solos that left guests in awe of his musical endurance and remarkable talent.

    Once the final applause died down, it was back to the Meyerson lobby for the after-party, hosted by chair Nicholas Boulle and honorary chair Anna-Sophia van Zweden, as well as a committee of young professionals, including Shelby and Travis Goff, Amy and Wade Havins, Kristin and Jack Sheneman, Julian Leaver, and Javier Burkle and Mason McCleskey.

    Sumptuous dessert buffets, including a special display from the Original Cupcakery, awaited, but a decidedly wilder time could be found around the side.

    Fueled by margarita shooters and guacamole with fresh-made chips, after-partiers packed the dance floor, manned by DJ Steffi Burns. Respite could be found outside in the Meyerson’s courtyard, where party lights twinkled prettily in the trees.

    To soothe attendees’ soles after a long night in heels, the Ritz-Carlton Spa was doling out foot massages and slipping pedicured toes into complimentary Swarovski crystal-accented Lady Lanell’s platform sandals. That helped keep the crowd going well past midnight.

    Proceeds from this year’s gala provide support to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s education and community programs. These initiatives reach 270,000 North Texas residents annually, 30,000 of whom are children.

    Sheila Grant, Jody Grant

    Sheila Grant, Jody Grant
      
    Photo by Sylvia Elzafon
    Sheila Grant, Jody Grant
    fundraisersgalassymphonymusic
    news/society

    Welcome to the Dreamstate

    Dreamy DIFFA Dallas gala invites glammed-up guests into surreal soiree

    Lindsey Wilson
    May 16, 2025 | 1:30 pm
    DIFFA 2025
    Photo by Kelly Alexander
    Gabriella Monte

    We're always in favor of a gala where you can turn up wearing pajamas, but when that gala is House of DIFFA, those PJs had better be glam.

    The 2025 theme combined the eerie with the ethereal: Dreamstate, which DIFFA describes as "a surreal realm where the power of dreams fuels transformation and fantasy gives way to fearless impact."

    And this year's guests were definitely not sleeping. Along with silky, slinky, sequined pajama sets and even a bit of racy lingerie, attendees at this avant-garde fashion extravaganza interpreted the theme in myriad ways: fairy wings, lacy masks, crowns, and plenty of ballgowns, rhinestone tuxedos, and high heels (on all genders) tall enough to rival skyscrapers.

    Chaired by Payton Martin and Jacob Samson and sponsored by the Louis L. Borick Foundation, the May 3 evening began with a private VIP cocktail hour. Then the masses could descend on the Sheraton Dallas Hotel for a vibrant two hours of sipping specialty drinks, posing for photographers, and bidding on both the silent auction items and legendary jacket collection.

    DIFFA 2025Midsummer night scene in the runway show.Photo by Thomas Garza

    These custom, one-of-a-kind jackets were all created exclusively for DIFFA Dallas, and included pieces from both local and global designers. The extensive silent auction offered everything from luxury fashion and jewelry to artwork, spa services, furniture, decor, and exclusive dining and travel experiences, with all proceeds benefiting HIV/AIDS service organizations across North Texas.

    This year's beneficiaries include:

    • AIDS Interfaith Network
    • AIDS Outreach Center
    • AIDS Services of Dallas
    • AIDS Walk South Dallas
    • CAN Community Health
    • Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ
    • Children's Medical Center ARMS Clinic
    • Cook Children's Health Foundation
    • Dallas Hope Charities
    • East Texas Cares Resource Center
    • Elevate North Texas
    • Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund
    • Health Services of North Texas
    • HELP Center for LGBT Health and Wellness
    • Legacy Cares
    • Legal Hospice of Texas
    • Open Arms, Inc. - Bryan's House
    • Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
    • Prism Health North Texas
    • Resource Center of Dallas
    • A Sister's Gift
    • Sonya's House
    • Tarrant County Samaritan Housing
    • White Rock Friends

    A special display also showed off outfits and headgear worn by such stars as Madonna, Shania Twain, Chappel Roan, and Zoe Saldaña in music videos, photo shoots, and on the red carpet.

    When the doors of the Lone Star Ballroom were thrown open, guests quickly sought their seats so that the program and three-course dinner could commence.

    Following remarks from the co-chairs and DIFFA Dallas board chair Ken Weber, the lady herself presented the Donna Fishel Community Hero Award to Todd Bacon, pastor of White Rock Community Church and community liaison for White Rock Friends.

    For the last 30 years, White Rock Friends has been committed to the health and well-being of its community, providing hot meals on weekends (one of the first and only in DFW) and running a "general store" that supplies personal care and household cleaning products to those in need.

    Then the DIFFA board of trustees got their moment in the spotlight, with waves of applause for Jacob Samson, Brandon Bell, Rick Castillo, Jonathan Flores, Steve Lopez, Paige Westhoff, Richard Rivas, David Chadd, Jainy Selvakumar, Danny Acevedo, Rhiannon Bolen, Christi Meril, J.R. Shoman, JR Hernandez, and Eric Bright.

    Strutting the runway next were the 2025 DIFFA Dallas Style Council Ambassadors: Ashley Anderson Smith, Sonya Morfor, Bill Moore, Korey Williams, Shelle Carrig, Amy Baumann, Lisa Endicott, Clayton Nabors, Chad Collom, Deborah Bowles, Sonia Simmons, Sierre Tuthill, Kelly Wolfenberger, Kelli Seliger, Danny Cabrera, Steven Hoyl, and Abbe Fenimore.

    DIFFA 2025Booker T. Washington Senior Modeling Luxury Jacket Photo by Danny Campbell

    To introduce the recipient of the Candy Long Excellence in Fashion Award, Erykah Badu surprised the crowd in an oversized hat and floor-length black veil. She revealed the winner to be Swedish-born activist and costume designer B. Åkerlund, who has outfitted some of the world's most iconic artists such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Britney Spears.

    Comedian Dana Goldberg returned as auctioneer, leading both a spirited paddle raise and a bidding race for such elite live-auction packages as a week in Puerto Vallarta, a villa stay in Costa Rica, a South African safari for two, a colorful painting of Dolly Parton titled Born With a Good Heart by Ashley Longshore, an in-home private chef dinner for six, a jaunt to Cortana, Italy, and a romantic Turks & Caicos escape for two.

    This led into the much-anticipated fashion show, which opened with a "Diamonds Are Forever" James Bond tableau and then ran the gamut from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to "Rhinestone Rodeo." At different points, the enraptured audience experienced dancers from Ballet North Texas, live musicians scattered across the T-shaped runway, and pajama-clad phone operators cooing to their callers. It was, as always, an over-the-top night to remember

    DIFFA Dallas' signature fundraising events continue throughout the year, with Burgers & Burgundy set for October 9 and the Holiday Wreath Collection happening in winter. The 2026 House of DIFFA will take place May 9, 2026, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel.

    Since 1984, DIFFA has granted millions of dollars to North Texas HIV/AIDS programs by raising funds through the production of incredible events highlighting the design community. DIFFA is one of the largest and most successful fundraising organizations for HIV/AIDS nonprofit service providers and education programs within Texas, New York, California, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Washington.

    DIFFA is the only HIV/AIDS organization in Texas that provides non-earmarked funding exclusively to HIV/AIDS service efforts in our communities, thus providing for the direct care for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Dallas is DIFFA's largest fundraising chapter. The unique design-focused events DIFFA Dallas holds include Burgers and Burgundy, DIFFA Wreath Celebration, and House of DIFFA.

    DIFFA 2025
      

    Photo by Kelly Alexander

    Gabriella Monte

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