2019 Symphony Ball Debutantes Begin Social Season with Afternoon Tea

2019 Symphony Ball debutantes and their mothers enjoyed a lovely afternoon Tea, Wednesday, May 15that the home of Laura Malone.  The previous year’s Ball Chairman hosts the annual event and this year, Debbie Washburn continued the tradition.  The Debutante Tea marks the official start of the Debutante social season.

Attending the event were the 28 young women who will make their debut at the 56thSymphony Ball, November 2nd, together with their mothers, and the members of the 2019 Ball Committee, past Guild Presidents and officers, past Ball Chairmen, and the wives of the Ball advisors.  Guests were greeted by Debbie, along with 2019 Ball Chairman, Rosemary Latham, and Symphony Guild President, Patti Thornton.

The young women enjoyed catching up after their freshman year of college as they savored the delicious tea menu selected by Debbie.  The Tea was catered by Carlton’s Catering and included a variety of delicacies including country ham and biscuits, chicken salad in pastry shells, cheese ring with fresh fruit, tomato and cucumber sandwiches, cheese straws and toasted pecans, and variety of sweets that included strawberry and chocolate bites and iced lemon shortbread cookies.  Gracing the lovely dining room table was a beautiful blue and white Chinoiserie bowl with gold stand filled with an array of pale yellow and white Peonies, Freesia, spray roses, Oriental lilies and Hydrangeas accented with seeded Eucalyptus and Hypericum Berries arranged by Anne Compton Burke. This was the first peek at the containers that are going to be used at the 2019 Symphony Ball.  The floral theme continued with an arrangement in a treasured Guild silver wine cooler that was given in 1993 by past Ball Chairman, in memory of Robin Lanier Stewart, 1988 Ball Chairman.  It has been used every year at the Debutante Tea since 1993. Fruit tea punch and sparkling juice were served by past Ball Chairmen and past Presidents Linda Akenhead, Nancy Colin, Shelia Irby, Amelia Summerville and Betty Tomlin. Ball Committee members who greeted and served our guests were Susan Anderson, Anne Burke, Ashlee Duesing, Bobsy Ingram, Brenda Milberger, Jamie Saunders, Cathy Scholl, Janet Skidmore, Rosalie Smith and Kathy Williford.

The young ladies shared plans for the summer season parties and looked forward to the community service projects and their own celebrations.

The Symphony Ball, sponsored by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild since 1964, is an annual fundraiser benefiting the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.

2019 Symphony Ball to Present 28 Debutantes

Front Row L to R
Juliana Kattos, Olivia Kattos, Caroline Kattos, Sydney Flesch, Katherine Jones, Bankston Creech, Katherine Hunter
Back Row L to R
Mary Catherine Kelly, Crosby Loftin, Jessica Cape, Alice Henshaw, Caroline Jewell, Savannah Cagle, Lucy Yarbrough
Front Row L to R
Sara Laine McNew, Caroline Stucky, Maggie Gardner, Lauren Kate Dodd
Back Row L to R
Elizabeth Johnson, Eve Schoenrock, Margaret Mitchell, Margaret Bryant, Elizabeth Walker

The Von Braun Center provided a scenic setting for photographs of the 28 young women who will make their debut at the 2019 Symphony Ball November 2nd. The young women enjoyed their first week of the season with three activities: the Debutante Tea at the home of Mrs. Laura Malone, a special Debutantes and Presenters event at the Von Braun Center, and two service projects: one for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and the other for Huntsville Hospital.  They continue the time-honored Huntsville tradition, which begins anew this summer.

The Symphony Ball, held since 1964, is an annual major fundraising event for the Huntsville’s own professional Symphony Orchestra.  It entails many hours of work by the event sponsor, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild.  Rosemary Latham is chairwoman of the 2019 Ball, and this year will be the 56thBall.

The 2019 debutantes, having completed their freshman year at college, look forward to an exciting season of social activities with their families and friends. The Symphony Ball season will culminate with their debuts at a gala event on November 2ndin the Von Braun Center North Hall.

Following is a list of the 2019 debutantes, their parents, their high schools, and colleges:

Catherine Dyar Ahia, daughter of Mrs. Conrad Shafer Ahia and the late Mr. Conrad Shafer Ahia, Westminster Christian Academy, Auburn University

Margaret Diane Bryant, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hall Blake Bryant III, Randolph School, University of Alabama

Savannah Sumners Cagle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Walker Cagle, Huntsville High School, Troy University

Jessica Lee Cape, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Lee Cape, Huntsville High School, Auburn University

Audrey Lee Greenwood Clayton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Wesley Clayton, Laurel Springs School, University of Georgia

Elizabeth Bankston Creech, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen David Creech, Randolph School, Bryn Mawr College

Lauren Kate Dodd, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Jonathan Dodd, Randolph School, University of Alabama

Sydney Summers Flesch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Donald Flesch, Huntsville High School, University of North Alabama

Margaret Virginia Gardner, daughter of the Doctors Stacey Strickland Gardner and James Steven Gardner, Randolph School, Auburn University

Anne Elizabeth Hardin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Gray Hardin, Huntsville High School, University of Alabama

Alice Kathleen Henshaw, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Turner Henshaw, Huntsville High School, Belmont University

Margaret McKenzie Huckaby, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Gary Carlton Huckaby, junior, Huntsville High School, University of Alabama

Katherine Montgomery Hunter, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Vernon Ross Hunter, Randolph School, Southern Methodist University

Caroline Lamar Jewell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roald E. Jewell, junior, Huntsville High School, Arizona State University, Tempe Campus

Elizabeth Marie Johnson, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Dee Johnson, junior, Randolph School, Southern Methodist University

Katherine Lee Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bryant Jones, junior, Randolph School, Auburn University

Olivia Kathleen Kattos, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kattos, Huntsville High School, Troy University

Caroline Emily Kattos, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kattos, Huntsville High School, University of North Alabama

Juliana Catherine Kattos, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Nicholas Kattos, Huntsville High School, University of Alabama

Mary Catherine Kelly, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Todd Kelly, Huntsville High School, University of Alabama

Crosby Camille Loftin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Mark Salchert and Mr. and Mrs. Mr. Gordon Bartley Loftin, III, Randolph School, Auburn University

Sara Laine McNew, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ray McNew, Randolph School, University of Alabama

Margaret McCulloch Mitchell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Blake Mitchell, Randolph School, Samford University

Eve Kathryn Schoenrock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Alan Schoenrock, Randolph School, United States Air Force Academy

Margaret Ruth Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Clay Smith, Episcopal School of Dallas, Elon University

Caroline Coleman Stucky, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Sims Stucky III, Randolph School, Texas Christian University

Elizabeth Clay Walker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Winston Clay Walker, Randolph School, Auburn University

Lucy Margaret Yarbrough, daughter of Mrs. Julie Caneer Yarbrough and Mr. Malcolm David Yarbrough, Huntsville High School, Troy University