RiverCity 11/2022

“The

Her Royal Majesty, the Diamond Queen Ireland Cassidy

The Women’s Symphony League of Austin thanks the community for over 60 years

collaborative support of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Official Jewel Ball portraits and event images by Buster Jetter Photography

Austin Royal Court

Ireland Cassidy

King Brio LVI Knight James Daniel Green

Women’s Symphony League is Pleased to Present our Annual Jewel

Ball Fundraiser Benefit for the Austin Symphony Orchestra

AUSTIN, Texas – The Women’s Symphony League of Austin (WSL) is thrilled to present this year’s Jewel Ball festivities. A culmination of a year’s worth of planning and coordi nation, the 67th Annual Jewel Ball, The Secret Garden, will be a celebra tion of tradition and jubilance.

The Jewel Ball welcomes back spirited revelry on Saturday, Septem ber 24th. A black-tie affair, celebrat ing music and the Royal Court. This year’s Jewel Ball Co-chairs, Carrie Semple and Leslie Pardue, prom ise a breathtaking event at the JW Marriott Hotel. We are also thrilled to recognize our honorary chairs Mary Lou and Bennie Downing for their years of support of the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

The League will recognize the Diamond Queen and twelve Prin cesses from Austin, honoring the

support of local families for the Aus tin Symphony Orchestra. The WSL also invites outstanding, college-aged young women from across the State of Texas to represent their communi ties as members of the Visiting Jewel Court.

This year’s Royal Court is remarkable in that several of our Princesses are the third and fourth generation of families that have a long-standing history with the Women’s Symphony League of Aus tin as well as the Austin Symphony Orchestra. It will be with great pride that we celebrate these families and their commitment to the arts in Austin at the Jewel Ball.

“We are honored to be chairing this year’s Jewel Ball, and continu ing this cherished Austin tradition that benefits the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Now more than ever, we

appreciate the opportunity to gather together to support a cause that truly enriches the lives of so many in our community. Of course, the highlight of the ball will be the presentation of our Royal Court. We are so grateful to the families represented in our royal court this year for their ongo ing support of the Women’s Sympho ny League as well as the programs of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. We look forward to seeing everyone on September 24th!” said WSL Jewel Ball Chair Carrie Semple.

The 2022 Royal Court includes the following outstanding young women: Her Royal Majesty, the Dia mond Queen, Ireland Cassidy of the House of Rose, Princess Mia Ann of the House of Arriaga, Princess Annabel McKenzie of the House of Briggs, Princess Megan Marie of the House of Candow, Princess

Avery Louise of the House of de Jong, Princess Caroline Elizabeth of the House of Hooten, Princess Madeleine Elizabeth of the House of Mahmoud, Princess Vivienne Grace of the House of McCracken, Princess Ainsley Caldwell of the House of Merritt, Princess Annabel Dooley of the House of Merritt , Princess Shelby Lynne of the House of Ow ens, Princess Hallie Varner of the House of Tyler, Princess Samantha Elise of the House of Wilson. The visiting Jewel Court includes: The Sapphire of Lubbock, Duchess Grace Elizabeth Shoop and The Pink Diamond of Waco, Duchess Sophia Gwendolyn Swenke.

The Escorts for this year’s Royal Court are an exceptional group of young men: Mr. Coleburn Alan Christie Jr., Mr. Wyatt Stephen Derr, Mr. Thomas Neal DuPuy, Mr.

Carson Hill Gillespie, Mr. William Roger Holst, Mr. Carter Joseph Hooten, Mr. Addison Roy Jetter, Mr. Patrick Warren Kennedy, Mr. Dario Étienne Alexis Müller, Mr. Barrett Teaff Nickle, Mr. Charles Benjamin Novy, Mr. Bremond Gunn Robinson, Mr. Charles Daren Scott, Mr. Cooper Joseph Tyler, and Mr. David Maguire Willson.

For 69 years, The Women’s Symphony League of Austin has dedicated its energy, talents and vol unteerism by providing service and financial support to the Austin Sym phony Orchestra and its education programs. The Women’s Symphony League is the largest annual financial supporter of the Austin Symphony Orchestra educational programs for children. Over 65,000 children ben efit from the innovative educational programs of the ASO every year.

Her Royal Majesty, the Diamond Queen

of the House of Rose

Daughter of Knight and Mrs. Sean Christian Rose Granddaughter of the Lord of the Privy Seal/King Brio XIV and Mrs. William Franklin Kemp

Great-Granddaughter of the late Knight and Mrs. Horace Guy Spiller

Son of Knight and Mrs. Jody Jeran Hooten Grandson of Lord Chancellor XXXVI and Mrs. Jeran Hooten Great-Grandson of the late Lord Chancellor VIII/King Brio IX and Mrs. Joe Hooten

Escorted by Mr. Carter Joseph Hooten

2022 Jewel Ball Royal Court

Jewel Ball Belles and Beaus

Jewel Ball Royal Court and Visiting Royalty, Princesses and Escorts

Jewel Ball Co-Chairs Leslie with husband Jason Pardue and Carrie with husband Chas Semple

King Brio LVI Knight

James Daniel Green and wife Jo

2022 WSL

President Katie Kaighin and husband Jim

Photography by Buster Jetter

Mia Ann

Annabel McKenzie

Megan Marie

Avery Louise

Caroline Elizabeth

Dooley

Madeleine Elizabeth

Vivienne Grace

Ainsley Caldwell

Shelby Lynne

Hallie Varner

Samantha Elise

Mary Lou and Bennie Downing

What happy joys this amazing couple has experi enced through their involvement with the Women’s Symphony League, the Knights of the Symphony, and the Austin Symphony Orchestra. The Down ings have made lifelong friends and memories through these wonderful organizations. We are so grateful to have them in our family and to award them the well-earned title of Honorary Chairs of the 67th Annual Jewel Ball! Virginia Roberdeau Horton (Mrs.John C.) and Jane Dunn Sibley (Mrs.D.J.) invited our lovely Honorary Chair to join the Women’s Symphony League in 1970. Bill Kemp was Bennie’s sponsor

Jewel Ball Honorary Chairs

to join the Knights of the Symphony.

of the House of Arriaga Daughter of Knight and Mrs. Orlando Rubio Arriaga

Escorted by Mr. Addison Roy Jetter Son of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson (Buster) Eugene Jetter

of the House of Briggs Daughter of Ms. Julie Ermis Briggs and Dr. Russell Deane Briggs

Escorted by Mr. Patrick Warren Kennedy Son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Chambers Kennedy

of the House of Candow Daughter of Knight and Mrs. William T. Candow

Escorted by Mr. Dario Étienne Alexis Müller Son of Mr. and Mrs. Marco Müeller

of the House of de Jong Daughter of Lord Chancellor LVII and Mrs. Allan Jacob de Jong;

Escorted by Mr. Charles Benjamin Novy Son of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Keith Novy

of the House of Mahmoud Daughter of Knight Basil Mahmoud and Ms. Kelly Mahmoud

Escorted by Mr. David Maguire Willson Son of Knight and Mrs. Matthew Frederick Willson

of the House of McCracken Daughter of Knight and Mrs. Dax Phillips McCracken

Escorted by Mr. Charles Daren Scott Son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lawrence Scott

of the House of Merritt Daughter of Knight and Mrs. Christopher Clifford Molloy Merritt

Escorted by

Annabel

of the House of Merritt Daughter of

the House of Owens Daughter of Knight and Mrs.

The WSL kicked off the Jewel Ball weekend with its annual Fashion Luncheon Presented by AT&T with Commercial Sponsor Mercedes Benz of Austin. Over 500 guests were treated to a Florals and Fashion celebra tion with Fashion Statements by The Garden Room and an intimate conversation between Wroe Jackson and fashion icon Lisa Rinna.

“Come to a meeting on Wednesday.”

It was an invitation from Peggy Brown, immediate Past President of the Women’s Symphony League, extended spontaneously at Laguna Gloria to Mary Ellen Borgelt, a recent University of Texas graduate who was diligently serving Beautify Texas in a position created by the Gov ernor’s Office. Such was the beginning of a lifelong love for the Austin Symphony.

Mary Ellen and her husband Roger have been Austin Sym phony donors with season tickets for over thirty years, a tradition sustained since 1976. They were featured in

“The Fortunate 500” in 2006 by the Austin AmericanStatesman in recognition of dedicated support of the Austin Symphony, the Elisa bet Ney Museum and Austin Opera. As a new member to Women’s Symphony League, Mary Ellen served on the 1977 Jewel Ball Committee, chairing the subcommittee that compiled the 60-page program commemorating the WSL’s 25th Anniversary. We are so grateful to have Mary Ellen and Roger as part of the arts of Austin community and to award Mary Ellen the well-earned title of Honorary Chair of the Fashion Lun cheon, Florals & Fashion.

Fashion Luncheon Honorary Chair Mary Ellen Borgelt

Past WSL President Suzon Kemp with granddaughters Princess Avery deJong and Diamond Queen Ireland Rose

Photography by Buster Jetter

2022 Fashion Luncheon Honorary Chair Mary Ellen Borgelt

WSL Gold Member Janet Hooten with daughter Jennifer Hooten Mc Cracken, granddaughters Princess Vivi McCracken and Princess Caroline Hooten, daughter-in-law Stephanie Hooten, & Linda Lacy

WSL member Michelle Lupton, WSL President Katie Kaighin and WSL member Stephanie Stowell

Caren Burbach, First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott, Guest Star Lisa Rinna, WSL Member and President of AT&T Texas Leslie Ward, Paula Azar and Marsha Nichols

Corporate Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Austin showcased this EQS450 all elec tric sedan at the eventLaurée Moffett and Lisa Rinna

Guest Star Lisa Rinna with the 2022 Jewel Ball Royal Court Princesses, Visiting Jewels and The Diamond Queen

Wroe Jackson and Lisa Rinna

The 2022 Royal Court at the Jewel Tea and Soirée. Back Row L to R: Princess Annabel McKenzie Briggs, Princess Mia Ann Arriaga, Princess Avery Louise de Jong, The Sapphire of Lubbock Grace Elizabeth Shoop, Princess Madeleine Elizabeth Mahmoud, Princess Vivienne Grace McCracken, Prin cess Shelby Lynne Owens, Princess Samantha Elise Wilson. Front Row L to R: Princess Megan Marie Candow, Princess Caroline Elizabeth Hooten, Prin cess Annabel Dooley Merritt, Diamond Queen Ireland Cassidy Rose, Princess Ainsley Caldwell Merritt, Princess Hallie Varner Tyler.

Jewel Ball Chair Carrie Semple, WSL President-Elect Katie Kaighin, Jewel Ball Chair Leslie Pardue

WSL Volunteers at 2022 Soirée “A Night in the Garden” Jeanette Bledsoe, Lauryn Robison, Megan Helmbrecht, Stacey Brewer, Jenn Bell, and Dorothy Lawrence

Youth Guests at 2022 Soirée “A Night in the Garden. Front Row: Allegra Johnson, Laila Hartmann, and Riley Kane. Back Row: Skylar Moore, Raina Turnas, and Anna Kate Duewall

Photography by Buster Jetter