Texas All-Star

Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith soon will be a Houston living legend

Just two weeks before the celebrity invitational that bears his name, Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith will be en route to Houston. On April 29, the NFL great and Dancing With the Stars champ will be honored at the sixth annual A Conversation With a Living Legend, benefiting the prestigious University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Houstonian co-chairs Vicky and Harris Pappas, along with honorary chairs Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, expect to draw more than 800 people to the Hilton Americas for the annual philanthropic luncheon. This year’s proceeds will fund brain cancer research.

In addition to his impressive football accolades — he is the only player in history to have won a Super Bowl, Super Bowl MVP, NFL MVP and NFL Rushing Crown all in the same season, and he is still the NFL’s all‐time leading rusher —Smith is a respected entrepreneur, best-selling author, sought-after speaker and known philanthropist. His charm both on and off the field has earned him favor among sports and entertainment fans alike.

The charismatic Smith is president and CEO of Emmitt Smith Enterprises Inc., which also includes Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities, a nonprofit organization that supports underprivileged children through education and enrichment opportunities. Smith lives in Dallas with his daughters and beautiful wife, Pat.

Since its inception in 2007, A Conversation With a Living Legend in Houston has raised more than $2 million for research and patient care initiatives at MD Anderson. The first Conversation With a Living Legend took place in Dallas in 1990. Between the events in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., this initiative has raised nearly $17 million for one of the world’s most respected cancer treatment and research centers.

At the kickoff party for the Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational.

Emmitt Smith, Pat Smith, Carole Murray, Scott Murray

Photo by Rhiannon Lee

At the kickoff party for the Emmitt Smith Celebrity Invitational.

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Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler

Jazz and classical mix at Dallas Symphony Orchestra's New Orleans-style gala

Photo by Kristina Bowman

Patrick Means, Laura Harris-Means, Cassandra Johnson, Avery Johnson.

For one night only, Dallasites got to pretend they were in the Big Easy without ever leaving Texas. More than 420 guests gathered at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on September 28 for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra's gala, themed this year around the colorful culture of New Orleans.

The evening began with a champagne cocktail reception featuring the David Washburn Jazz Band playing New Orleans-style jazz on the Meyerson’s radial staircase. When the time came to transition to dinner service, members of the DSO Young Musicians played “Oh When the Saints Go Marching In” and led a second-line-style procession down the steps and through the lobby.

DSO gala 2024 It'd be impossible not to follow them.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Gala chairs Laura Harris-Means and Patrick Means, along with honorary chairs Cassandra and Avery Johnson, followed with umbrellas waving above their heads to signal to guests that it was time to be seated for an elegant dinner. The New Orleans theme continued with a Creole-inspired menu that included filet of beef, blackened Gulf prawns, asparagus, dauphinoise potatoes, and tricolored carrots.

DSO gala 2024. Patrick Means and Laura Harris-Means led the second line.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Spotted at the tables were Venise and Larry Stuart, Marena and Roger Gault, Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld, Rachel and John Koryl, Chuck Steelman, Nancy A. Nasher, David J. Haemisegger, Grace Cook, Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, and District 14 Councilmembers Paul Ridley and Jamie Resendez.

After dinner, guests moved into the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall to enjoy world-renowned pianist Lang Lang in his first appearance with the DSO orchestra since the 2016 DSO gala.

The sold-out concert begin with Dallas Symphony Association chair of the Board of Governors Cece Smith thanking the 1,700 concert attendees. Smith then introduced Michelle Miller Burns, the DSO’s new president and CEO, who reminded the crowd that proceeds from the evening support the DSO’s education programs, including the Young Strings and The Kim Noltemy Young Musicians programs. These programs touch the lives of more than 243,000 North Texas residents annually, including more than 30,000 children.

DSO gala 2024 Laura Harris-Means and Young Strings student Patrick Miranda.Photo by Kristina Bowman

The 28 Young Strings, Young Musicians, and Teen Council students who were in the audience then stood to thunderous applause.

And with that, the legendary Lang Lang took to the stage on piano alongside the DSO, conducted by music director Fabio Luisi. On the program were Rachmaninoff’s expressively virtuosic Second Piano Concerto and two encores, Charlotte Sohy’s "Romance" followed by his own arrangement of the Disney/Elton John hit “Can You Feel the Love Tonight."

DSO gala 2024 Lang Lang during the performance.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

After the performance, guests returned to a lobby that had been magically transformed into Club Toulouse, an Cajun-flavored after-party experience with savory snacks, sweet desserts, and dancing to tunes spun by DJ Endolena.

DSO gala 2024 Guests danced their hearts out at the after-party.Photo by Sylvia Elzafon

Photo by Kristina Bowman

Patrick Means, Laura Harris-Means, Cassandra Johnson, Avery Johnson.

Next year’s gala is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025.

fundraisers classical music dso concerts galas