Music plays a significant role in connecting families and groups of people, even during this time of being socially distanced from one another. Enjoy these activities and videos put together for children and families to enjoy music at home. There are also resources below designed to encourage student musicians to continue their musical development. Have fun making music! Click Here for more information and ideas.
The Ellen Kelley Volunteer of the Year Award is given in recognition of outstanding service to the Houston Symphony League. This year’s winner is Jane Clark.
Jane has been a member of the Houston Symphony League for more than 20 years. Jane is a past President of the League and has served in numerous board positions, including Ima Hogg Competition Chair, Junior Patrons Chair, Recording Secretary and B Sharp Brunch Chair. She has also chaired the League’s Spring Luncheon and Holiday Luncheon and continues to open her home to host board meetings and offer support and guidance to League presidents. Jane has been a leader in other charitable organizations, serving as PTA President and President of Bayou Villages Chapter of National Charity League. She also enjoys being a member of Memorial Drive Garden Club and two local book clubs.
Jane was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents served as a lasting influence on her. Her mom was a volunteer in many areas of their community. Her father was a lover of all the arts, including classical music. She remembers clearly when he took her to see the Nutcracker ballet as a child and her first school orchestra concert (Peter and the Wolf at the Atlanta Symphony). She was a member of her church choir and her high school choir.
She attended Emory University and earned an undergraduate degree in business. She then moved to New Orleans and met her husband, Jerry. Soon after they were married, they moved to Chicago. Here Jane went back to school and earned her MBA . Jane and Jerry have also lived in New Orleans, Denver and London. Along the way three children were born: Christine, Daniel and Russell. Jane and Jerry are the proud grandparents of Alex, Samuel and newborn Eli. Jane is sharing her love of music with her grandchildren and loves bringing 4-year-old Alex to Saturday Family Concerts.
Jane feels that while she has had many different arts /musical influences in her life from jazz in New Orleans, to blues in Chicago and classical and opera in London, it was not until she moved to Houston that she found her musical home. It was in Houston that former Symphony League president Shirley Pearson persuaded her to join the League, and her love of music has grown ever since. Jerry and Jane enjoy their symphony evenings together as a stress free time. Jane loves volunteering and the friends she has made through the Houston Symphony League. Jane Clark is a worthy recipient of the Ellen Kelley Volunteer of the Year Award. Her positive nature and good humor are evident in everything she does and make her a joy to work with.
This award is presented each year by the Houston Symphony League to an outstanding education volunteer for serving and inspiring others and bringing the joy and splendor of music to children and their families in the Houston community
This award was established in 2000 to honor the memory of Ardyce Tostengard, a long-time education volunteer for her dedication, service and lasting impact on the education programs of the Houston Symphony, for inspiring others and for bringing the joy and splendor of music to children and their families in the Houston community. This is the 20th year the Ardyce Tostengard Crystal Cello Award has been given. This year’s recipients of the Ardyce Tostengard Crystal Cello Award are Betty & Gerry Stacy.
Betty & Gerry have lived in Friendswood since 1974. They have three sons, a daughter and three grandchildren. Since they retired in 2009, Betty & Gerry have been very active in their community-volunteering at the Houston Rodeo and a concession stand at the Astros games. They run their Episcopal Church’s resale shop. They enjoy travel and visits to Vegas & Louisiana. A large part of “being active in their community” has been their membership in both the Bay Area Symphony League and the Houston Symphony League. As a member of the Bay Area Symphony League, Betty began volunteering in the Jones Hall Symphony Store and was the buyer with Joyce Fox for several years. Betty & Gerry have volunteered for the Ima Hogg Competition. And, this year, Betty is the V-P of Education for the Bay Area League. But, for at least the last 10 years, they have truly shone in their dedication & commitment to the Student Concerts and every year work almost all of them. Betty has co-chaired Student Concerts with both Joyce Fox and Gayle Eury. Betty & Gerry demonstrate the same quiet, modest, low-key leadership that Ardyce Tostengard was known for and for persistence, dedication, & commitment. They have involved others in service and have expanded the League’s ability to support our mission to support the Symphony’s Student Concerts-the Symphony’s bedrock program that brings music to Houston Area children.
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