The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild had the honor of presenting 33 young women on Saturday, October 24, in the Von Braun Center North Hall at the 52nd Symphony Ball. Over 770 patrons, guests, friends and family attended the formal presentation and enjoyed “An Enchanted Southern Evening.” This year’s Ball was chaired by Nancy Colin.

The Von Braun Center North Hall was transformed into a colorful vision of shades of pinks, corals, and greens.  Guests entered the North Hall through curtains of a shimmery coral fabric, adorned with cascading bouquets at the top corner of the swags.  At the entrance, consoles covered in the same fabric were topped with an array of clear glass vases containing monochromatic floral arrangements of different varieties and floating candles in glass pillars.  Inside the North Hall, tables were covered in coral cloths that reflected a subtle golden hue.  Table arrangements were “antiqued” silver compotes containing hydrangeas, varying shades of pink roses, and bells of Ireland; while other tables were highlighted with cylindrical glass bowls containing low arrangements of the same flowers.  The stage was draped in a cloud of white silk taffeta with double-tiered swags above.  A focal point of the hall was a white canopy of taffeta that appeared to float above the entire length of the dance floor.  The room was awash with a blush glow of light.  As they were presented, Debutantes carried bouquets of the debutante rose, Latin Ambiance.  Floral designer was Carl Casiday of Lola’s, Sheffield, Alabama.

An invocation was delivered by Richard Van Valkenburgh, Jr.; and Jerry Nutt, Emeritus Member of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Association Board of Trustees, served as Announcer for the Ball.  The Symphony Orchestra strings and trumpets provided the perfect music during the cocktail hour, followed by the debutante presentation and a waltz with the debutantes and their fathers. The Craig Duncan Orchestra never sounded better as everyone danced the night away.

Guests enjoyed a formal dinner of sliced pear salad and mixed greens with pear vinaigrette, filet of beef with roasted red pepper sauce, scalloped potatoes, bacon wrapped grilled asparagus, and Marsala mascarpone mousse with chocolate beignets.

Following are the 2015 Symphony Ball debutantes, their parents, presenters and escorts.

Callie Christina Bragg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vann Bragg, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Albert Edward Willis III.

Anna Catherine Brooks, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Gregory Brooks, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. William Jackson Fite, junior.

Lily Margaret Brooks, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William Timothy Brooks, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. John Reed Miller.

Mallory Frances Castellow, daughter of Mrs. Carl Lowe Castellow and the late Mr. Carl Lowe Castellow, presented by her uncle, Mr. David Kenneth Johnson, and escorted by Mr. Daniel Austin Robertson.

Emily Ann Clemons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Alan Clemons, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Taylor Vincent Jennings.

Marian Witty Crump, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bryant Crump, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. John McCurry Monroe.

Stephanie Nicole Gilbert, daughter of Ms. Jodi Louise Rutenberg and Mr. Scott Edward Gilbert, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Jacob Oliver Dean.

Leah Jeane Honkanen, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Frank Andrew Honkanen, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Grant Adcock Johannes.

Emily Rachel Lapidus, daughter of Mrs. Alissa Cohen Lapidus and Mr. Michael Louis Lapidus, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. John Clay Pruett.

Lauren Alis Layton, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Troy Alan Layton, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. John Carey Oliver.

Jordan Akin Lee, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. David Alan Lee, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Gerrit Sander Vanderwerff.

Mary Gray Lindstrom, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Collier Lindstrom, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Miller Smith Jackson.

Lauren Elizabeth Lowe, daughter of Mrs. Huettel Lowe and Mr. Peter Loftis Lowe, junior, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Richard Eugene Markwalter III.

AnnaMarie Marona,  daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Wayne Marona, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Christopher Alan Burgoon.

Hughston Elizabeth May, daughter of Mrs. William Sterling May and the late Mr. William Sterling May, presented by her uncle, Mr. Roderick Mark Thornton, and escorted by Mr. Jorge Will Clements.

Keeley Malone McMurray, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley David McMurray, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Peyton McDaniel Davis.

Sarah Gwin Moore, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Elmo Moore, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Cole Holland Watt Milberger.

Allyson Elizabeth Nuwayhid, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ramsay Paul Nuwayhid, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Luke Nathanael Hamm.

Mary Scott Pearson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Calvin Pearson, junior, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Kyle Fulton Yokley.

Mary Morgan Plott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Dwight Plott, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Ryan Robert Jones.

Susan Will Purvis, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Thomas Purvis, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Colin Walker Finnell.

Mary Margaret Ragland, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Rowland Ragland, junior, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Timothy Leo Carruthers.

Catherine Joseph Rasco, daughter of Mrs. Dowdle Rasco and Mr. Mark Alexander Rasco, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Thomas Kurt DeLay, junior.

Abbie Porter Rodgers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Stanley Rodgers, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Peter Loftis Lowe III.

Madeline Jewel Rushing, daughter of Mrs. Tate Rushing and Dr. David Lee Rushing, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. John Crawford Harper.

Mary Katherine Russell, daughter of Mrs. James Oliver Wright and Mr. Daniel Lewis Russell, junior, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. William Reid Sisk.

Cameron Ann Seeley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Burton Seeley, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Matthew Roger Bell.

Camille Nicole Shockley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Lynn Shockley, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Lucas Maximillian Damian.

Anna Grace South, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher McLeod South, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Alexander Bennett White.

Lauren Grace Stevens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Richard Stevens, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Dino Srabovic.

Sarah Reagan Tepool, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Alan Tepool, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Austin Gray Hughes.

Josephine Ann Tucker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond McEachern Tucker, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Ryan Douglas Lee.

Katherine Hill Vest, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lee Vest, presented by her father and escorted by Mr. Charles Gann Nelson.

Serving as marshals were Robert Joseph Darden, William Andrew Glenn, Richard Anderson Hamm, junior; Nathan Hayes Ludwig, William Self Propst III, Jeffrey Ross Suwarow, John Connor Suwarow, and John Wildsmith Thornton.

The 2015 Ball Advisors were Andrew Jeffrey Albert, Ernest Wellwood Colin, junior; Dr. John D. Johnson, junior; Ronald Elwyn Reed, Patrick Adair Robbins, John Randolph Roper, Dr. John Edwin Rush, George Autry Smith II, Steven Curtis Thornton, and Richard Powell Van Valkenburgh, junior.

Committee members included Pamela Gann, Advisor and 2014 Ball Chairman; Debbie Washburn, Guild President; Betsy Lowe, Debutante Presentation; Amelia Summerville and Theresa Taylor, Arrangements; Ivy Albert, Ball Secretary; Donna Rush, Sallie Ennis, and Cara Greco, Debutante Tables; Patti Thornton, Lee Anne Bostick, and Anne Compton Burke, Decorations; Beth Wise, Finance; Donna Shergy, Linda Akenhead, and Karen Kiss, Food and Beverage; Daphne Reed, Honorarium; Ann Rivard, Cathy Scholl, and Kim Johnson, Invitations; Brenda Milberger and Debbie Overcash, Marshals and Escorts; Lee Anne Smith and April Russell, Photography; Nancy Richardson and Suzanne O’Connor, Programs; Pennie Keene, Julie Malone, and Wendy Tucker, Properties and Take Down; Sharon Gartrell and Janet Skidmore, Publicity; Susan Todd and Paige Prozan, Reservations; Cynthia Masucci, Scrapbook; Lori Gregory, Bobsy Ingram, Karen Kimbrough, and Elaine Pollard, Debutante Project; Josie Craig, Debutantes and Presenters Event.

The Symphony Guild sponsors the debutante program annually as a fundraiser for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.

Young women invited to debut at the Symphony Ball are college sophomores with a history of community involvement.

Since its inception, the event has raised more than $2.7 million to support orchestral music for the community.