Vanessa And David Cain Take The Stage as DSO Gala Chairs

FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC

Vanessa And David Cain Take The Stage as 2025 DSO Gala Chairs

By Kate Ward

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's most anticipated event of the year just found its perfect match in longtime supporters Vanessa and David Cain. The couple has been named Gala Chairs for the 2025 Symphony Gala, taking place Saturday, October 4, and celebrating the DSO's 125th anniversary.

The black-tie evening will include a cocktail reception, an elegant seated dinner sponsored by Hall Group, and a Gala Concert sponsored by Capital One, featuring Artist-in-Residence Leonidas Kavakos and the DSO, conducted by Music Director Fabio Luisi. The concert opens with Beethoven's Egmont Overture a nod to Sir Georg Solti, who conducted the piece at the first subscription concert of his DSO tenure and culminates with Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. A lively after-party with dancing, desserts, and late-night savories will follow.

Vanessa and David both grew up in Dallas, attending Hockaday and St. Mark's School of Texas, and have been longtime patrons of the DSO. They've passed the tradition on to their children, Lola (6) and Abe (5). The Cain family regularly attends performances at the Meyerson, and their kids' recent favorite was the DSO-accompanied Harry Potter movie score.

A lifelong music lover, Vanessa's passion was sparked by childhood visits to the DSO with her parents experiences that nurtured her love of diverse musical genres. Whether at the Meyerson or a second-line parade at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, she finds joy in connecting people through live performance. Since 2021, she has served on the DSO Board of Governors and launched The DSO Social to bring friends together for curated concert outings.

Professionally, she's a family nurse practitioner specializing in cardiology, with degrees from Pace University, Texas Woman's University, and a BA in Anthropology and Latin American Studies from the University of Vermont.

David's formative years in Vienna fostered a deep appreciation for music and classical traditions. He attended The American International School in Austria before earning a BA in International Relations from USCand an MBA from UC Davis. "How can you spend time in Austria," David asks, "without developing a love of classical music?" Today, he brings that global perspective to his role as VP of Property Management at Hall Group, where he manages a commercial real estate portfolio. He also spent a decade in Napa Valley in wine operations and sales. He and Vanessa regularly attend DSO performances with their children and have both served on past Gala Host Committees.

The Cains are deeply committed to the DSO's mission of community engagement and music education. "It is our great honor to serve as Gala Chairs for this year's Symphony Gala," the couple said in a joint statement in the official announcement. "We have been long-time supporters of the DSO, and we're thrilled to expand our involvement by leading the charge for one of their most impactful fundraising events. The DSO's work in the community and through education outreach keeps the arts thriving in our city, and we couldn't be more excited to be part of it."

To learn more about the Gala, visit DALLASSYMPHONY.ORG/GALA