Highlights of the 2008-9 Season
Summary of Volunteer Activity
Number of active volunteers - 138
Number of volunteer hours - 9,600+
Number of miles traveled - 41,200+
Attendees at outreach events - 900
Events
Fall Awards Brunch – Fall Awards Brunch – At the annual Fall Awards Brunch Guild members and friends joined the Guild in honoring Imelda Gott as Volunteer of the Year. The Volunteers of Distinction were Fred Gott, Mary Hanks, Ann Koster, Wynne Mattison, Maura Ritchie, and Vita Taksa. Rubena Buerger received the Bravo Award for professional excellence, and KUHF Houston Public Radio received the Crescendo Award for corporate support.
Music, Divas, and Desperados! Spring Event – The Best Little Opera Guild in Texas put on the Best Little Party Ever! Janet Sims chaired this year’s spring event which was held at the Briar Club. This event honored Bonnie Sue Wooldridge for her more than 40 years of service to HGO and the Guild. The event featured performances by HGO Studio artists and talented dancers, a country-western band for dancing, and a silent auction.
OperaAmerica – More than 20 Guild volunteers represented Houston and HGO to visitors from all over the US and several foreign countries at the OperaAmerica conference hosted by HGO. Tony Montemarano coordinated all the volunteers for this event.
Volunteer Gathering – Patricia Carnes organized the annual Volunteer Gathering where Guild members and prospective members were able to sign up for Guild activities in the coming season. Perryn Leech gave a presentation about preparing a new production. At this year’s event, Rising Star Awards were given to Harold Block, Khaled Dakheel, and Kirk Hickey for significant contributions in their first year of active volunteering with the Guild.
Continuing Programs
Theatre District Open House – Guild volunteers supported the open house with tours of the Wortham Center, a special children’s area, and by providing photos with the HGO Art Car for attendees. Tony Montemarano coordinated all the volunteers for this event.
Artist Hospitality Support for The Refuge – With less than 10 days notice, Mary Hanks coordinated 10 volunteers who helped out backstage during the piano tech, dress rehearsal, and both performances of The Refuge. These volunteers assisted with check-in, escorted artists from their dressing rooms to the rehearsal room and stage, helped with costume fittings, served refreshments, delivered messages, directed parking, and transported equipment. In addition to providing emotional support and guidance to the artists, many of whom had never participated in a major production, the volunteers demonstrated significant initiative in identifying and resolving problems that would otherwise have demanded a staff member’s time and attention.
Artist in Residence Performances – Jo Lyday coordinated performances by HGO Studio artists for nine community organizations, attended by approximately 650 individuals. This year’s performances were in such diverse places as the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Greenwood Forest Women’s Club, HSPVA, and Richmond State School.
Opera Night Live! – Opera Night Live! events were organized by Alice Gates for the Fall, Winter, and Spring Reps. Each event featured studio artists and a preview of an upcoming opera. A total of 234 people attended these events at the United Way, which were put on in conjunction with KUHF.
