Meet the DSOL debs

44 new Dallas debutantes begin Presentation Ball prep with glam parties and glorious gowns

With the start of summer vacation came the beginning of the 2023-2024 Dallas Symphony Orchestra League debutante season - even though it seems like just yesterday that the 2023 debs were Texas-dipping into society.

The DSOL introduced 44 new debs during Announcement Weekend festivities, May 18-20, in Dallas. Their parties, philanthropy, and training will culminate with the 38th Presentation Ball on February 10, 2024.

The mega-weekend began with the Announcement Party, emceed by Stan Gardner, at Dallas Country Club on the evening of Thursday, May 18. The next day, a deb and Honor Guard family dinner was held at the El Fenix downtown. Stanley Korshak hosted a couture gown show at the Bridal Salon on Saturday morning, May 20, and Patti Flowers Design Studio presented custom gowns that afternoon. (Per tradition, each deb will wear a white ballgown to her Presentation Ball.)

The 2024 Presentation Ball is under the guidance of chair Kristin Cordiak and DSOL President Nancy Labadie. Both women will lend special expertise to this year's debs: Kristin’s daughter Bronwyn made her debut in 2018 and her son Newt was an Honor Guard this year. Nancy was Ball Chair in 2016 and her son Will was an Honor Guard in 2015. Her daughter-in-law Lizzie was a debutante in 2013.

"The Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball has celebrated music and family for 38 years,” says Cordiak, adding that the 2024 debs "each add to the beautiful tapestry of the event as they embark on a lifelong journey of philanthropy.”

Now, for the most important part. The 2024 debutantes are: Helena Breland Bach; Erika Mae Batson; Mia Lane Blanton; Claire Elise Cahoon; Ellie McClain Gidden; Ripley Elizabeth Cooley; Kennedy Claire Downing; Electra Wallace Ford; Sarah Rose Gambrell; Catherine Lee Grayson; Camille Anne Greening; Meredith Elizabeth Hallam; Grace Soleil Handler; Caroline Parker Hart; Catherine Bradford Hunt; Isabella Ann Jackson; Ashley Elizabeth Jaynes; Ellen Taylor Jones; Minje Kwun; Emannuelle Grace Le Voyer; Claire Michael Levy; Riya Kaur Luthra; Elizabeth Myers Madison; Avery Pilar Moore; Finley Elizabeth Nelson; Day Gilmer Nettle; Lillian Susan Nettle; Mina Hiranmayee Raj; Bailey Erin Robirds; Courtenay Christianson Sands, Kathryn Bunker Sands; Caroline Robertson Smith; Sheridan Michelle Spencer; Caroline Story Stiles; Leslie Katherine Swango; Caroline Parker Teegarden; Payton Grace Thurman; Megan McKamy Dyer Underwood; Lauren Alexis Watkins; Charlotte Nicole Webb; Kelley Caroline Wheeler; Abigail Archer Willingham; Claire Anh Wooley; and Sophia Corina Yung.

Honor Guard officers presenting the debutantes for the Announcement Party were Conner Olson, John Liptack, Matthew Melcher, Eric Hirschbrich, Nicholas Arnold, Philip Jenevein, Wyatt Awtrey, Vance Miller, Thomas Liu, and Stefan Fischer.

Debs' parents and other relatives in attendance at the launch events included Laura and Jason Downing (whose daughter Kennedy is the third debutante in the family making her debut); The Hon. and Mrs. Alphonso Jackson, John and Kristina Hallam, Dena and Vaughn Miller, Elizabeth and Eric Gambrell, Cameron and Clay Smith, Suzanne and Adam Stiles, Kathryn Wheeler, Kelli and Gerald Ford, Gayle Sands, and many more.

The Assembly, a group of former debutantes who assist the Symphony League by helping with event arrangements throughout the season, was represented by Perrin Griffin, Bronwyn Cordiak, Allie McWhorter, Katie Kottwitz, Emily Stone Young, Ava Heppner, Maddy Duvall, Maddi Hendrick, and Samantha Sullivan.

The presentation of Dallas Symphony debutantes is a time-honored tradition for many of Dallas' most influential and philanthropic families. The debs are of college age and typically are graduates of Dallas-area high schools, but may be attending college out of the area.

Participation is open to all young women. Much like a sorority, participants pay fees and participate in parties, fundraisers, classes, and other events throughout the year, all leading up to the Presentation Ball.

The Presentation Ball, which was first held in 1987, is the largest fundraiser for the DSOL. Over $15 million has been raised for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through the annual black- or white-tie event.

Founded in 1946, the DSOL's mission is to support the Dallas Symphony Orchestra through service, education and fundraising activities. Since 1998 the League has contributed over $22 million in support of the DSO's many community initiatives.

Photo by James French

Debutante Lauren Watkins (center) with grandparents Alphonso and Marcia Jackson

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Cowboys news

Netflix series about Jerry Jones & the Cowboys gets starry L.A. premiere

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (from left) Reece Weaver, Sophy Laufer, Camille Sturdivant, and Charly Barby; Charlotte Jones, Jerry Jones, Ted Sarandos, and Bela Bajaria

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys headed to Hollywood on August 11 for the silver-star-studded premiere of Netflix's forthcoming series America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys.

Releasing August 19, the documentary series will "tell the story of how 'America’s Team' established a legacy," Netflix says, adding, "America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys is the definitive story of the Dallas Cowboys and Jerry Jones’ impact on NFL history. What began as a daring purchase led to the assembly of the iconic ’90s football team."

Watch the trailer here:

Jerry, his wife, Gene Jones, and their extended family - including children and Cowboys execs Charlotte Jones, Stephen Jones, and Jerry Jones, Jr. - walked the blue carpet at the The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood in Los Angeles ahead of the premiere.

They were joined by an A-list roster of Cowboys greats, Hollywood stars, and celebrity athletes and TV broadcasters. Among them: Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith (with Smith's kids Elijah and Rheagen Smith), Marshawn Lynch, James Washington, TV host Mario Lopez, broadcaster Al Michaels, sports reporters Andrea Kremer, Jamie Erdahl and Taylor Bisciotti, Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Nastia Liukin, actress Molly Burnett, and Dallas-based reality TV star Rachel Lindsay.

Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, and Bela Bajaria, chief content officer for Netflix, helped throw the event for the Cowboys. New Paramount-Skydance owner David Ellison was there, as well. In fact, he was a driving force behind the series. America's Team is the first project to come out of a joint venture between NFL Films and Skydance Sports.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix's Bajaria told the audience before the screening, “Back in March of 2023, I was having lunch with David Ellison at the Tower Bar, and he mentioned he had secured the rights to the telling of the Dallas Cowboys. I don’t think he got the sentence out before I said, ‘Wait, wait, wait, stop, we have to have it no matter what.’ And he said, ‘No, no, no, I’m telling you I’m getting the deal, I don’t have it closed yet.’ I was like, ‘It doesn’t matter, we just have to have it,'” as she’s a big Cowboys fan. “So, David thank you for saying yes; Cowboys, too, thank you for saying yes.”

America's Team will feature appearances by players who became household names in the ’90s, Netflix says — Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders — as well as head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer and high-profile fans such as former President George W. Bush and Nike co-founder Phil Knight. It is directed by brothers Chapman and Maclain Way.

America's Team will be available for streaming on Netflix on August 19.

It follows the highly successful Netflix series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, America's Sweethearts, now in its second season. Several DCC stars were part of the America's Team L.A. premiere, including Reece Weaver, Sophy Laufer, Camille Sturdivant, and Charly Barby.

Tailgate with CultureMap
Dallas Cowboys fans who are inspired by the Netflix show can then get in the gameday spirit at CultureMap's big fall sport bash, The Tailgate. Taking place at The Empire Room on Sunday, October 5 (aka the day the Cowboys take on the New York Jets), the party will include tailgate-inspired cuisine from local restaurants, premium cocktails, sports celebrity appearances, a silent auction of sports memorabilia, and more.

Early-bird tickets are already on sale for just $35. Read more about The Tailgate here and nab discounted tickets here. With sponsors like FLIGHT by Yuengling, Sportsmo, Puttshack, Mizzen+Main, Antone's Famous Po' Boys, and more, this party will score big with everyone. You don't want to stay on the bench.

Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (from left) Reece Weaver, Sophy Laufer, Camille Sturdivant, and Charly Barby; Charlotte Jones, Jerry Jones, Ted Sarandos, and Bela Bajaria

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