During the holiday season, spare time can be limited to holiday shopping, baking and celebrating. But one Lake Highlands mother of two made time to organize a fund-raiser for something she believes in – the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Barbara Powers is chairing the junior Group Dallas Symphony Orchestra League’s fifth annual holiday benefit, “Deck The Halls”. The event features a performance by the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, comprised of selected children from age 5 through school age. The concert is scheduled Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the Morton Meyerson Symphony Center Downtown.
“It’s a wonderful family holiday experience,” Powers says. “On that Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., we will have children’s entertainment in the lobby, including puppet shows, storytellers and carolers.”
In the midst of holiday decorations and Christmas trees, children can have their photo taken with Santa. Scheduled lobby performers are the Dallas Puppet Theater and First Baptist Puppets, musician Eddie Coker and storyteller Jan Alexander. Carolers from area church choirs will stroll throughout the lobby singing holiday favorites.
Powers says volunteering to help the symphony is important to her because she and her family are big fans of classical music.
“As longtime season ticket holders to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, we know the importance of funding,” Powers says.
And how important is the 200-member Junior Group to the Dallas Symphony?
“They are a very integral part of our outreach program,” says Carol Stabler, director of public relations for the Dallas Symphony Association.
“Through the hosting of the youth concerts, hosting of the Symphony Yes Program, which takes the orchestra into elementary schools, the Junior Group plays an important role in helping us to develop the audience of the future.”
“Deck The Halls” is one of two fund-raising efforts sponsored by the Junior Group Dallas Symphony Orchestra League. In the spring, the league has a 10-K run, which was chaired by another Lake Highlands mother of two last spring.
“The run was very successful,” Karen Schwalb says. “We had over 8,000 runners and were able to present the Dallas Symphony Orchestra $100,000.”
Schwalb and her family aren’t musicians, but they are music lovers.
“We go to Dallas Symphony performances whenever we can,” she says. “The music is beautiful, and it is a wonderful cultural experience for the children.”
Tickets for “Deck The Halls” can be purchased at the Dallas Symphony Box Office. For information, call 962-0203.
