Good as Gold: Glittery bash kicks off Palm Beach Symphony's golden anniversary season

A golden anniversary deserves a golden touch.

The folks at the Palm Beach Symphony know that better than anybody.

The organization, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, kicked off its golden year with a glittering reception. And in this case, all that glittered pretty much was gold. Or maybe diamonds. The by-invitation event for major donors took place Nov. 13 at Club Colette.

The evening in the garden included cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, Wayne Hosford's piano, and an update on the coming season.

“Thank you for joining us this evening as we launch our 50th anniversary season, made possible by the support of our patrons, donors and sponsors,” said Palm Beach Symphony board chairman James Borynack. “On behalf of the board of directors, thank you for your dedication to the arts that enables us to make a lasting impact on our cultural landscape and in the community.”

The season is featuring four world premieres commissioned for the occasion, composed by music director Gerard Schwarz, Pulitzer Prize winners Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Aaron Jay Kernis, and MacArthur Fellowship recipient Bright Sheng.

“While we celebrate our history this season, we remain focused on the future and our responsibility as a major orchestra,” said board member Cathie Black, who with Tom Harvey is co-chairing the Palm Beach Symphony’s 50th anniversary and gala.

“We want to recognize and thank Paul du Quenoy, Ambassador Bonnie McElveen-Hunter and Don and Mary Thompson for helping us commission these important new works.”

After the reception, Borynack hosted a dinner for 22 major donors.

More than 150 people attended, including Richard Allen, Christine and Max Ansbacher, Mara and Arthur Benjamin, Barbara and Hans Bergstrom, Kathy Lee Bickham, Edith Bjork, Camille Branca, Sheryne and Richard Brekus, Nancy Brown and Leonardo Radomile, Vanessa and William H. Brown Jr., Carol and Thomas Bruce, Nannette Cassidy, Dale Coudert, Thomas D'Agostino, Jr., Elizabeth DeBrule, Craig Dickman, Michelle DuBois, Michael Egren and Cindy Rosellini, Janet Ellis, Diane and Richard L. Farber, Dolores Fernandez Alonso, Andrew Filauro, Jamie Germaine, Gerald Gibian and Marjorie Yashar, Barbara and RC Gilbert, Arlette Gordon, Janet Gusman, Ursula Gwynne, Caroline Harless, Carol S. and Joseph Andrew Hays, Rebecca Hirsch, Pamela Howard and Wynne Laffey, Alexis Hull, Mary and Martin Jacobson, Christine and John Jannarone, Lawrence Kaplan, Leonard and Norma Klorfine, Stephanie Lefes, Syndie Levien and David Hess, Stefanos and Natasha Makrymichalos, Eric Malcolmson, Melissa Masterson-Kellenberger, Mary Bryant McCourt, Marjorie Miller Kihn, Michael and Dana Miller, Suzanne Mott Dansby, Jennifer Nawrocki, Kitty and Dudley Omura, Joy Pahlavan, Katherine Pinard, Erick Reickert and Lady Susan Willis, Philip Robinson, Esther Rosenberg and David Simon, Gina and Jeff Sabean, Kevin Sanford, David Sarama and Daniel Drennen, Gudrun Sawerthal, Florence Seiler and Bill McBride, Sherri Stephenson, Nancy Stone, Carl Vasile, James J. Verrant, Gil Walsh and John Johnston, Suzanne Webster, Adam and Erica Wolek, and Al Zucaro.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach Symphony kicks off golden anniversary season