Members'
News

Please send news items about yourself or your
Guild friends to guild@houstongrandopera.org.

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Dinner with Anthony
June 2007

Bobbie and Arthur Newman graciously donated their home in the Rice Military area for the Guild's dinner with Anthony Freud, one of the auction items from the Spring "Crafty Muse" fundraiser. For this lovely evening which raised more than $1500 for the Guild, the Newmans donated wine, catering and the flowers. The Guild would also like to thank Ward and Susan Pennebaker, who were $300 underwriters of the event.

Jesse & Roberto's Excellent Adventure
June 2007

Jesse Weir and Roberto Ayala write: Traveling has always been a big part of our lives and since retiring we travel more than ever. But, we always plan trips around the opera season and sometime it has been tricky. We never want to miss an HGO opera!

Our latest adventure was to Peru. Our neighbors are from Peru and they advised us to travel there in June and so June it was. It was one of our more strenuous trips because of the altitude. After a few days in Lima we flew to Cusco which is at 11,000 feet! We were fortunate to be in Cusco during the Corpus Christi festival. Thousands of Inca people don colorful costumes and follow behind dozens of huge floats carried on the backs of men parading around the great Plaza de Armas also called the Naval of the Puma or the center of the world by Inca beliefs. Each float had large, richly decorated statutes of saints. Our visits included the Urubamba River, passing through a beautiful landscape packed with typical Andean crops and grasslands, herds of llamas, and colorful villages to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We climbed the ruins of Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuaman plus we spent an afternoon visiting the chaotic and colorful Pisac Market where locals sell spices, fruits, meats, and other needed daily items. We flew in small planes over the mysterious Nazca Lines and visited a dessert oasis. Of course, Machu Picchu was the highlight. The spectacular journey began on the Skydome train at Cusco with a series of switchbacks, or zig-zags, as they are know locally, that lasted for half-hour as the train ascended the Picchu mountain. We were on our way to Machu Picchu where we spent two days. You must witness the sunrise over the mountains at Machu Picchu! As one of the newest Seven Wonders of the World it is aptly named. Yes, we saw more but you must go to Peru and experience it for yourself. But, be sure you plan your trip around the HGO season.

See additional photos of Jesse and Roberto's Trip to Peru.

Bob and Fiona Toth's Summer Plans
May 2007

Bob Toth writes: Fiona and Bob will be spending their Summer in Scotland, London, and the British Virgin Islands.

Laquita Mitchell's Wedding
April 2007

Laquita Mitchell (HGO Studio alumna) was married to Captain David Patton Saturday, April 7th at the Rice University Chapel. The bride wore a lace gown and looked fabulous. Norman Reinhardt sang, along with several of Laquita’s friends – Noah Stewart, May and Yvonne Washington. Jeremy Frank played piano and organ. The reception was held at Buddies Bill and Lucila Haase’s house. A number of Buddies helped with the wedding, including: Janet Sims, the Haases, Adelma Graham, Jo Lyday, Roxanne Cargill, and Peter Weston. Diane Zola, Bonnie Sue Wooldridge, Gloria Portela and Dick Evans also attended. The couple departed for Los Angeles, where Laquita sang Clara in L.A. Opera’s Porgy & Bess.

See additional photos of Laquita's wedding thanks to Janet Sims.

A Night at the Rodeo
March 2007

Members of the HGO Studio were entertained by a singer of the sort many of them had not heard in-person before. The 35 studio members and their buddies from the Guild met at the home of Lucila and Bill Haase, then took the train from downtown to the Reliant Center to see the performance of the country and western performer Clay Walker and the world-championship rodeo competition. The Studio members really enjoyed the dramatic opening ceremonies which included the presentation of the flags by many of the officers of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The Studio members watched the calf scramble, always a favorite with the audience, with great enthusiasm. They also found the variety and quality of the animals at the stock show interesting, loved the student art display and found time to buy some Texas treasures from the western-style vendors who exhibit there. Like the Guild, the HLSR is one of the contributors to the education programs of HGO.

Dinner with a Diva!
February 2007

The Houston Grand Opera Guild’s ad has been running in Cues and Playbill. The teaser headline was created to attract new members, and it is also attracting the attention of advertising professionals. It recently won the top award, the Gold ADDY, in its category, Magazine Advertising, Public Service/Nonprofit, at the Houston Advertising Association Annual Awards Ceremony. You can see a version of the ad adapted for a sign displayed in the foyer of the Wortham Center before opera performances.

The ad was designed by Houston marketing and advertising firm Pennebaker, whose owners, Susan and Ward Pennebaker, are past-presidents of the Guild.

Deaths

Robert Giesberg (Contributor and Editor of Opera Cues in the 70s and 80s, and author of Houston Grand Opera: A History), May 28, 2007

Cheryl Baker (Guild Volunteer and Chair of the 2006 Theater District Open House), December 24, 2006

Morris Gabel (HGO Supporter and Guild Volunteer), December 17, 2006

Anthony Aiuvalasit (Guild Member and HGO Supporter), December 13, 2006

All content © 2003 Houston Grand Opera Guild
Illustrations by Mark Summers
Last Updated 12/26/07
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