Academy Ball 2020 co-chairmen’s Reception

December 4, 2019 by HughE Dillon Leave a comment

The 163rd Academy of Music Anniversary Concert and Ball co-chairmen’s reception was held on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

UPDATE: Here are the photos from the Academy Ball 2020 and links to where others may be found.

**Dennis and Deborah Glass** hosted the reception at their home in Bryn Mawr.

The Glasses greeted the guests as they arrived.

**Cackie Rogers,** vice chairman of the Academy of Music (AOM) Board of Trustees, **Mario Mestichelli,** Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Philadelphia Orchestra Association, Dennis and **Deborah Glass**, co-chairman Jim Brandau, a senior vice president at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. , and Academy Ball 2020 co-chair Lisa Buckingham

**The 163rd Anniversary Concert and Ball**
Join us for Philadelphia’s most fabulous party of the year—the annual Anniversary Concert and Ball, a spectacular white-tie event with star-studded performances, dining, and dancing, all supporting an iconic historic landmark.
Saturday January 25,2020 The Philadelphia Orchestra
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor

T hanks Andre Flewellen for shooting this event.

**Alyson Jack,** Director of Event Planning and Services at The Bellevue Hotel, **Brian Lang**, **Claire Allamby, Senior Director of the Academy of Music Restoration Fund Office**, **Kelsey Bartle**, Senior Event Sales Manager at Hyatt Hotels Corporation and William Rossi

**Morris Williams, Elaine Camarda, Alexandra Edsall**, and **Robert Victor**

**Jack Earle**, Managing partner at Earle enterprises lp. and **Kate Allison**, founder and CEO of Karma Agency, a strategic communications firm headquartered in Philadelphia and a member of the *Board of Trustees*

**Young Friends membership. For those 21–40 years young, get access to discounted concert tickets, free drinks, and exclusive after parties!**
Join now: www.philorch.org/young-friends

Philadelphia

The Best Dressed of the 161st Anniversary Concert and Ball

January 30, 2018 by HughE Dillon

The 161st Anniversary Concert and Ball was celebrated Saturday, January 27, 2018 at the Academy of Music and Hyatt at the Bellevue. A sold out crowd enjoyed a pre cocktail party, a spectacular concert by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin and The Philadelphia Orchestra along with special guest Steve Martin, before making the iconic walk up Broad Street to the Bellevue for dinner, dancing and fun. The Anniversary Ball is a White Tie event, with a very strict dress code with no room for interpretation. Even the photographers who shoot the event are required to adhere by the dress code of White Tie and full length gowns. That being said, lets see who the stand outs of the evening were as decided by a PhillyChitChat panel. Funds from the gala go to the restoration fund for the Academy of Music building

Marilyn Russell, WOGL in a stunning glittery gown was my date for the evening.

Dr. Lynn G. Dever, MD and Jim Dever, Bank of America’s Philadelphia market president. Bows were big this year!!

Amazing mother daughter fashionista’s Sloane Glass and Nancy Glass

Linda Swain wearing Nicole Miller and Ian Swain

Lydie Szabo Brown, 161st Anniversary Concert and Ball Co-Chairmen and Paul De Janosi

Kevin Johnson and Kimya Johnson, RED HOT. Red was the dominate color of the night for the ladies.

Congrats to Jason and Rachel Cevera, baby girl Cevera, due this May.

Lynsie Solomon wearing a gorgeous Rene Ruiz with dapper husband Evan Solomon
Stunning Amber Gomes and husband Pedro Gomes|
Amber wore Johnathon Kaye. He was a Project Runway Allstar.Janice Wright Waitkus and Bob Waitkus

Janice wore Kay UngerRed Dress from Neiman Marcus, white fur Jacques Ferber. I loved her handbag from Anthropologie and elegant 18k Caviar LAGOS jewelery

Brad Marshall and Sarah Marshall arrive at the pre concert cocktail party at the Academy of Music. Sarah is wearing Monique Lhuillier from Neiman Marcus

Susan Boulton and Mark Mills
Stunning in winter white Elizabeth Wixted and Kyle Scott. 2018 will be a very good year in deed as the happy couple are engaged to be married

Another couple walking down the aisle this year Erika Blatt and Cory Siegfried, who will exchange rings in April.

I wish I had gotten a full length shot of these two beauties, but it was upstairs during the cocktail hour and it was packed. I love, love, love their textured dresses: Rafaela Torres with a mix of gold, black and silver applique dress and Carrie Benson silver, black and grey applique dress

This photo doesn’t do Alissa Frederico‘s dress justice as I forgot to change my white balance on my camera with Alex Holley scarlet red silk satin strapless gown.

Dress: @marchesafashion Baubles: @bernierobbinsjewelers MUA: @seth_bartonroberts for @priv Headband: @justinemcouture @labellemariee Hair:

Stellar

Sharon Phillips Waxman with daughter Mackenzie Drew.
Sharon’s company SPW Productions was one of the producers of the Academy Ball event again this year.

SPW Productions secured the entertainment which were seen along the Broad Street promenade. The women on the left is wearing a spectacular gown, which makes my list of the 24 best list.

Yasmina Moukarzel and John Giordano, had the wedding of the century last year, and my pick for one of the best events of the year in an earlier post on chitchat. Yasmina is wearing Giambattista Valli haute couture

Kristin Detterline, beautiful green gown accessorized with Bernie Robbins jewelry and Justin Jeffers

Anne Hamilton, Board Member of the Academy of Music, here with husband Matt Hamilton

Best Dressed repping the Philadelphia Eagles as Anne drapped the flag around her beautiful gown, with a ribbon.

Stunning and never disappointing Anne Callahan wearing Oscar de la Renta

Best dressed of the evening, Dr. Nina Radcliff looks gorgeous in her spring like gown, a staunch Trump supporter, Dr. Nina, TV personality and columnist’s date for the Ball was the handsome Democratic Senator Larry Farnese, proving that you can reach across the aisle, put politics aside and find common ground.
For all the details on the 161st Anniversary Ball

For more photos from the Ball check out Philly Style Magazine and CBSPhilly. Additional Photos will appear in the March issue of Philadelphia Magazine (some may be on this page) and next weeks Liberty City Press

Philadelphia

January Galas: Academy Ball and Hair of the Dog Dress Suggestions

January 16, 2018 by HughE Dillon

There are two big galas coming up in the next 2 week. The Hair of the Dog affectionately known as HOD is January 20 and the Academy of Music 161st Anniversary Concert and Ball on January 27. People always ask me what should they wear when they attend these galas. I have a few examples from my “Best Dressed List” of both parties last year. (Need a Tux or White Tie, head to MenWearhouse on 1600 block Chestnut Street. For you guys going to Academy, we have a group number set up. Anyone will do, but if Will Speed is there, ask for him. -Ad)
First up is the Academy Ball.

The Academy Ball is a White Tie Gala. The most gallant, and strictest in criteria for dress.

For women it means formal, floor length evening gown, best jewels and often women will wear gloves. For men it’s black tail coat (not a white one like I originally thought the first time I went, opps) matching pants with a single satin or braid stripe, a white wing collar shirt, a white vest or white pique’ waist coat, studs and a white bow tie. Black shoes.

Not the correct bow tie or vest Mr Short

Gorgeous

Perfect

This duo is always on my best dressed list at a lot of parties,
but in this case his shoes may not be appropriate for a White Tie Gala

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Hair of the Dog is a Black Tie event

Formal evening gown or dress, or dressy cocktail dress. Males: Black tuxedo jacket, matching trousers, formal (pleated front or pique’) white shirt, black (silk, satin) bow tie, black cummerbund to match tie, optional suspenders, black patent shoes, black dress socks.

Jen Sherlock’s gown is perfect for either gala, although too much of a “nude” panel would not be acceptable at Academy Ball, while Jen’s friend cute cocktail dress is perfect for HOD

Vivian’s gown is perfect for HOD, and would be ok for the Academy Ball.
It’s gorgeous!!

These dresses are perfect for the HOD

Definitely adorable for HOD

Gorgeous gown, but the Academy Ball frowns on too much breast, where at HOD we celebrate it.
Hopefully these examples will give you an idea of what is appropriate for each event.