Each year, the Symphony Ball debutantes participate in a community service project and seminar as part of the beginning of the debutante season. Proceeds from the Symphony Ball benefit the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. To highlight music and community service, this year the event joined efforts with two local organizations: the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. The Service Project and Seminar, which was held Friday, the 19th of May, 2017, started with the debutantes gathering at the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra office.
Sharon Hicks, Director of Education of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra (HSO), led the debutantes in their first service project of the day, as they cleaned the violins for the Huntsville Symphony School’s third grade violin program. Ms. Hicks provided a history lesson to the group on the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony School and provided an impromptu violin lesson. While the debutantes were busy cleaning violins, they were entertained by the music of two young members of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra.
The young ladies then boarded the 1920s vintage-inspired downtown Huntsville trolley for a ride to the campus of UAB Health Clinic. The Debutantes assembled packets for their “Coloring Book Project.” The special coloring books depict exciting places from the City of Huntsville and highlight the orchestra and music. The coloring cooks were illustrated by the late Bill May, father of former Debutante Hughston May. The coloring book packets will be given to Huntsville Hospital patients visiting the Pediatric Emergency Room and those in both the Pediatric Unit and the Pediatric ICU.
While the debutantes enjoyed lunch, Candy Burnett, President of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, kicked off the workshop with a “baker’s dozen tips for success” presentation. Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild member Lori Gregory also presented “Polish your Professionalism” reviewing business etiquette to aide in their career development. The event concluded with a Career Planning Workshop where the young Huntsville Hospital professionals conducted round robin sessions highlighting their careers. The ladies learned about the many different career paths within the Hospital from various departments including Business, Nursing, Radiology and more. Many of the speakers were former Debutantes.
Huntsville Hospital employee, Jordan McMullan, who coordinated the hospital visit, is also a former debutante. Debutante Service Project coordinators from the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild were Lori Gregory, Bobsy Ingram, Joanna May and Dana Lusk. The young ladies will be formally introduced to the community during the 54th Symphony Ball on October 28, 2017.
The Symphony Ball, sponsored by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild since 1964, is an annual fundraiser benefitting the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
For further information, call Jennifer Lapidus, 256-520-6175