In grand tradition that dates from Queen Victoria of Britain to Queen Charlotte of Bridgerton, 44 young women made full-court bows into society at the 39th Dallas Symphony Orchestra League Presentation Ball on February 15 at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

The opulent evening saw 1,200 guests don regal ballgowns and dapper tuxedos for one of Dallas’ most glamorous and formal events of the year. The Presentation Ball is the largest fundraiser for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League.

The annual event also represented a fun coming-together of generations: Debutantes’ parents and grandparents applauded them proudly from the lower levels of the concert hall, while their college-aged friends - many having arrived together via party bus - filled the grand tier to cheer them on with abandon.

What, exactly, were they cheering for?

A 90-second display of graceful gymnastics.

Olivia Barber gets a kiss on the cheek from her dad, Brandon Barber during her presentation.Photo by Gittings

When her name was announced by master of ceremonies Stan Gardner, each debutante was escorted onto the stage by her father (or an uncle or family friend) as the Dave Alexander Band and Orchestra played a theme of her choosing - from "The Way You Look Tonight" to "Sweet Caroline" to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons." Dad then kissed her on the cheek and carefully stepped to the side (avoiding stepping on their daughter's dress), and looked on proudly as she walked on to the front of the stage, independently.

Slowly, purposefully, gracefully, each woman curtsied all the way to the floor for her "Texas Dip" - arms out, head forward, head bowed, head to the side - while clutching a floral bouquet. A member of the Honor Guard then offered his hand to assist her rise from the floor and carefully escorted her off stage.

Abigail Carlisle assisted by Honor Guard member David Curlin.Photo by Gittings

The noble curtsy is a maneuver the women rehearse hundreds of times, yet any number of things can go wrong, like a shoe heel getting caught on a crinoline petticoat underneath her billowing white gown. If any such snafus happened onstage, they weren't detected by the audience, who enjoyed a perfect performance by all 44 debs.

Photo by Deborah Brown

Pamela Wills-Ward and Samantha Ward

After all the women were presented, guests descended hastily to the lobby, where trumpeters lined the grand staircase to announce the procession of debutantes and Honor Guard members into the party. The women then joined their dads for a traditional father-daughter Grand Waltz to “Moon River."

Olivia Coker dances with her father, Key Coker.Photo by Gittings

Patrons sat down to a sumptuous filet mignon dinner in the lobby, which was adorned with exquisite spring florals by Junior Villanueva's team at Garden Gate Floral Design. After supper, the Jordan Kahn Orchestra revved up for a high-energy after-party on the dance floor.

The 2025 DSOL debutantes were: Olivia Reese Chambers Barber, Brooke Lucille Barcus, Brooke Makenna Barnes, Lauren Elizabeth Brown, Abigail Claire Carlisle, Sara Grace Cashion, Sara Elizabeth Cavey, Elle Terese Chavis, Rebecca Lauren Ciarochi, Olivia Katherine Coker, Isabelle Catherine Eggart, Annabel Dianne Everitt, Finley Paige Galvin, Eliana Lourdes Garcia, Sophie Michelle Goelzer, Elizabeth Rose Goelzer, Alexa Christine Grabow, Camille LaClaire Gravel, Katherine Blaine Hess, Grace Alexandra Hoverman, Sydney Sherrill Hoyl, Madeleine Sutton Hubach, Katherine Anne Hudnall, Hannah Elizabeth Jackson, Harper Leigh Knight, Ella-Rose Marcus Levy, Lily Bauchet Lynch, Ivy Ann Mazzucchi, Julia Holliman Montgomery, Grace Cathryn Morrison, Natalie Brooke Newton, Anne Blanche Peacock, Ava Francis Perpall, Caroline Elizabeth Petrikas, Lauren Elizabeth Porray, Vivian Grace Potter, Alexandra Elise Sargis, Grace Isabelle Schlafer, Madelyn Grace Sporl, Mary Nash Stone, Ava Marie Tribolet, Natalie Elaine Van Arsdale, Samantha Renee Ward, and Annabeth Gracelyn Winn.

2025 DSOL Debutantes and Honor Guard Photo by Gittings

The 2025 Presentation Ball took place under the guidance of co-chairs Ginger Sager and Barbara Averitt, along with DSOL president Dixey Arterburn. The evening’s honorary chairs were Shirley and Bill McIntyre.

Also in attendance were Michelle Miller Burns, new Ross Perot President and CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, with her husband Gary Burns; and Roger Gault, new chairman of the board of the Dallas Symphony Association Board of Governors, with his wife, Marena Gault.

Per tradition, numerous family members were in attendance to support their deb. Among them: Terrence and Audra Chavis, Pamela Wills-Ward; Jennifer, Julian and Morgan Potter; Debbie, Alexandra, and Paul Sargis; John and Dianne Schlafer; Eryn Sporl; Mary Elizabeth and Gregory Porray; Sarah Morrison; John, Lester, Christine, and Marigny Winn; Cynthia, William, and William Everitt, Sr.; Katherine and Key Coker; Eduardo Garcia, III, Eduardo Garcia, Jr., Yolanda Garcia, Sofia Garcia, and Isabella Garcia; Celia, Patrick, Dawne, and Julia Tribolet; Ali, Abi, and Frederick Perpall; Miles and Carrie Eggart, and many more.

The evening held particular meaning for two former debutante mothers, Brett Levy (1988) and Laurie Peacock (1989), who watched their daughters, Ella-Rose Levy and Anne Blanche Peacock, make their own debuts. Several families celebrated the presentation of a second debutante, including the Joel Ciarochis, the Cyrus Barcuses, the William Newtons, the Julian Potters, and the Taylor Stones. Dawne and Patrick Tribolet proudly marked the debut of their third daughter.

The Tribolet family: Celia, Patrick, Ava, Dawne, and Julia.Photo by Deborah Brown

Family bonds were further noted as many debutantes were escorted by their brothers, including Key Coker, Jr., Christopher Hess, JB Hudnall, Mitchell Jackson, Robert Peacock, James Petrikas, and Jack Schlafer.

The Dallas Symphony debutantes 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. Like pledging a sorority, participants pay fees and participate in parties, fundraisers, classes, and other events throughout the year, all leading up to the Presentation Ball.

Since its founding in 1946 by visionary philanthropist Tincy Miller, the DSOL has contributed over $23 million to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s education and outreach programs.