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.