On January 8th, the Guild and HSO hosted the annual Young Artists’ Auditions at UAH Roberts Recital Hall. The YAA committee was chaired by Ashley Wells and co-chair Ginger Loder. The winners were:

1st Place – Claire Zhang, piano, student of Susan Hoop

2nd Place – Jeffrey Duan, piano, student of Susan Hoop

3rd Place – Constantine Haff, violin, student of Jeff Dortch

The Young Artists Auditions (YAA), a co-sponsored event of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (HSO) and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild (HSOG) was held Sunday, January 23,2022  in Roberts Recital Hall on the UAH Campus.  This exciting event featured five very talented and dedicated young artists, a committee of ready and excited HSOG volunteers and the event was able to be held live and in-person…three big pluses for the day!

Artists who competed in the event were:

• Elizabeth Ames, cello, from Tallassee, AL
• James Clark, cello, Madison, AL
• Nathaniel Han, cello, Huntsville, AL
• Elias Loo, bassoon, Huntsville, AL
• Christina Showalter, cello, Madison, AL

All of the artists who competed received a complimentary YAA t-shirt and a certificate.

Event winners were:

James Clark—1^st place and received a check for $400—The winner will perform as a soloist on stage at the opening of the FREE Family concert

Elias Loo—2nd place and received a check for $300

Elizabeth Ames—3^rd place and received a check for $200

From L to R: Elias Loo, James Clark, and Elizabeth Ames

Special thanks goes out to Sharon Hicks, HSO Education Director, for her leadership and guidance in planning and making the YAA a special event and day for the artists.  Thank you so much to Janet  Neeley, HSOG Education Chair, for her constant support and willingness to help as the YAA returned to a live event following the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions of last year.  A very special thank you to the YAA Committee members who stepped up to assist in any role needed to make the auditions a memorable occasion for the artists. Committee Members were: Bess Csar, Betsy Cunha, Susie Fortner, Jacque Hudson, Barbara Loflin, Michele Slaton and co-chairs Linda Thomas and Pat Cross.  And a final thank you to Naomi Dubois, HSOG President, and Dan Halcombe, HSO President and CEO, as the always constant behind the scenes support needed as the YAA event planning occurred.

One of the highlights of every holiday season is the Guild’s annual Silver Tea, held this year at the home of Ashley and Bill Mitchel at the Ledges, Thursday, December 2, 2021. The Guild has held the Silver Tea now 55 years as a benefit for the Huntsville Youth Orchestra. Funding from the Tea helps keep musical training alive for young musicians. 

Greeting the guests with Ashley were Rosemary Latham, Silver Tea chair; Joe Lee, Director of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra; Jennifer Case, HYO Board President; Deborah Brown, Huntsville Youth Orchestra Executive Director, and Naomi DuBois, President of the Guild. 

The home located # 6 Ledge View Drive SE, constructed in the English Tudor style, was built in 2017. Designed by Matheny Goldman Architects +Design features heavy beams and Gothic styled woodwork. Janna Collins assisted Ashley in the interior design. A balance of warm dark wood and light airy spaces create a welcoming atmosphere. All of the wood throughout the home is reclaimed oak. 

The dining room was filled with delicious tea treats prepared by Ina Rosa of Chef on Call. A special feature of the dining room is the elevated hearth flanked by a burl wood teacart. The assortment of mini desserts were popular and complimented by the faux champagne served by Past Guild presidents. The focus of the decorations in the dining room were red and terra cotta roses, magnolia, berries, and winged elm along with hand-dyed velvet ribbon as well as other seasonal decorations as additional focus of the holiday decorations throughout the home.

Special thanks to the Tea committee: Silver Bowl, Joyce Griffin; Past Presidents/Punch Bowl, Shelia Irby; Invitations, Nancy Van Valkenburg, chair with Nancy Richardson and Sarah Lauren Kattos; Reservations and Finance, Courtney Allen; Room Hostess, Karen Higgins; Correspondence, Mary Withington; Cloak Room, Bobsy Ingram; Database, Page Hanks; Transportation/Security, Tabby Ragland and Michele Hunter; HYO liaison, Ashley Wells; Photographer, Louise Graffeo; Volunteers, Ann Rivard; Advisor, Stacey Gardner; Publicity, Margaret J. Vann; and Caterer Liaison, Amelia Summerville.

The Silver Bowl was attended by past Guild Presidents while the talented HYO youth musicians entertained the guests with live chamber music. Students of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra were excited to share their music at the Silver Tea. Students, in small ensembles, played a selection of holiday favorites and classical music. The guests could enjoy visiting in the front sitting room as well as visiting the areas downstairs and the children’s rooms and guest suite upstairs. the view from the outdoor areas offered beautiful views of the golf course.

The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild got in Get holiday spirit with this year’s entry in Huntsville Annual Tinsel Trail. The holiday showcase in Big Spring International Park made of hundreds of locally decorated live Christmas trees. Every evening the trees light up the park from dusk until midnight. It’s a magical sight. So grab a cup of hot chocolate, stroll through the Tinsel Trail, go skating in the park and soak up the holiday season.

The Silver Tea will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021, from 1:00 to 4:00 at the home of Ashley and Bill Mitchell at 6 Ledge View Drive.

Please join us for this elegant event to open the Holiday Season.

Attendance at the Silver Tea is by invitation only. Contact Rosemary Latham at latham6511@charter.net for more information.

The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild held the 57^th Symphony Ball, “Masterpiece,” on October 23, 2021,  in the North Hall of the Von Braun Center, where 58 beautiful young women, from both the 2020 and 2021 debutante classes, were presented. The venue was dramatically transformed into an elegant and sophisticated setting by Charlotte Wessel of Buckets and Blooms. She crafted elaborate chandeliers of greenery suspended above the dance floor and dining area and incorporated the 2020 rose, “Shimmer,” and the 2021 rose, “Faith,” to great effect in urns and topiaries that graced each table.

Dr. Ken Rivenbark served as Master of Ceremonies, and he proved to be a grand emcee once again. He announced each class of debutantes with precision and gravitas.

Following the formal presentation and traditional waltz by the debutantes and presenters, an intimate dinner was enjoyed by the debutantes, their families, and close family friends. The meal was a culinary feat for the VBC, featuring a tender beef filet with a compound butter as well as a well-seasoned chicken breast accented with a chipotle crema. The entrees were complimented with bacon-wrapped asparagus and shaved brussels sprouts. The dessert course was also exceptional with the choice of tantalizing tuxedo cake or chic caramel crunch cake to end the meal on a sweet note.

Mark Jaeger was the official Ball photographer for the evening, and he took small-session family photos during the dinner portion of the event. An additional option of a photo booth was available during the Celebration party for those wanting fun pictures to share and post to social media.

The Celebration party began at 9:00, and guests danced the night away up until midnight. The Craig Duncan Orchestra outdid themselves, entertaining everyone and encouraging guests of all ages to take the dance floor.