Here’s How The Celestial Celebration For The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s 125th Anniversary Happened

Where Fashion Met Philanthropy And Music Soared, The City’s Cultural Elite Toasted The Landmark Anniversary In Style

By Cynthia Smoot    Photography By Tamytha Cameron and Sylvia Elzafon

THE SCENE: Recently, Dallas’ music lovers gathered at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 Symphony Gala. This year’s glittering event celebrated the DSO’s 125th anniversary. More than 400 distinguished guests enjoyed an unforgettable evening that included cocktails, dinner, and a live auction. An additional 800 guests joined the celebration at the gala’s concert and after-party. 

Guests arrived in the main lobby of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, which David Kimmel Design had transformed into a lush, futuristic garden, complete with shimmering water features and ethereal mist; the perfect setting for a champagne reception. The Dallas Symphony Chorus entertained with a medley of songs from the Meyerson’s radial staircase.

Honorary Co-Chairs Erin Mathews and Ruth Ruhl welcomed guests for dinner and introduced auctioneer Charlie Caulkins from Sotheby’s, who led the night’s spirited live auction. Highlights from the auction included a Napa Wine Country Getaway, a Porsche track experience in Atlanta and a luxury stay at Four Seasons in Vail, Colorado, and the Mandarin Oriental Ritz in Madrid, all generously donated by sponsors.

Capital One Head of Navigator Products Annie Fallows presented Young Strings student Elias Gonzalez with the first-ever Capital One Outstanding Student Award, which includes a $5,000 scholarship for Gonzalez to invest in his musical future. Designed to support continued artistic growth, juniors and seniors in the DSO’s Young Strings and Young Musicians programs were encouraged to apply for this award. The funds can be used toward the purchase of a new instrument, enrollment in a summer program or masterclass, college-related expenses and more.

After dinner, guests moved into the Eugene McDermott Concert Hall and were welcomed by Ross Perot President & CEO Michelle Miller Burns, Dallas Symphony Association Chair of the Board of Governors Roger Gault and Gala Chairs Vanessa and David Cain. The Cains then welcomed Music Director Fabio Luisi (Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Directorship) and the musicians of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to the stage. The evening’s concert with the DSO was led by Luisi and featured Artist-in-Residence Leonidas Kavakos. The program included Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Overture to Egmont.

THE VIBE: The 2025 Symphony Gala Chairs Vanessa and David Cain, along with Honorary Co-Chairs Erin Mathews and Ruth Ruhl, helmed the evening with Host Committee Chairs Dr. Courtney and Andrew Nall. DSO supporters and notables in attendance included Allison and Brett Brodnax, Calvert Collins-Bratton and Vince Bratton, Grace Cook, Marena and Roger Gault, Howard and Fanchon Hallam, Kristin and James Hallam, Kim and Greg Hext, Mary and Eric Laub, James and Margo Keyes, Myrna and Robert Schlegel, Lisa and Bob Segert, Andy Smith and Paul von Wupperfeld, Paul Stewart, Venise and Larry Stuart, Herb and Donna Weitzman, Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Moreno, Dallas City Council Members Paul Ridley (District 14) and Zarin Gracey (District 3).

After the performance, guests returned to the Meyerson lobby, which had been magically transformed once again, into a whimsical, futuristic “soiree in the celestial garden” for an after-party experience where guests enjoyed savories, desserts, and dancing to live music performed by Groove Sinfonico with DSO trumpet Elmer Churampi. 

THE NON-PROFIT: The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi (Louise W. & Edmund J. Kahn Music Directorship), presents more than 100 concerts each year at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s finest concert halls. The DSO is committed to its mission of inspiring and changing lives through musical excellence and serves more than 200,000 adults and children each year through performances, educational programs, and community initiatives.

The annual Symphony Gala is one of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s largest annual fundraisers, benefitting the DSO’s life-changing education and community outreach initiatives, allowing the DSO to continue inspiring and changing lives through musical excellence. The DSO touches the lives of more than 200,000 North Texas residents each year.