Ghouls and gals from the Academy of Music Young Friends gathered on Friday, October 11, 2019 for the Ninth Annual Monsters Ball Masquerade at the Exchange at the Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia.
The Academy of Music Young Friends is a fast-growing dimension of awareness and engagement strategies that inspires the participation of the next generation of leaders, doers and givers for the Academy of Music. Among the popular events for AOMYF are the Ninth Annual Monsters Ball Masquerade, the Young Friends tent at the Radnor Hunt Races and happy hours throughout the year. Membership supports the Restoration Fund for the Academy of Music.
Academy of Music Restoration Fund
The Academy of Music is owned by The Philadelphia Orchestra. As a venue, the Academy is managed through a legacy contract with the Kimmel Center. Ticket sales from resident companies support everyday maintenance of Academy. Sales do not provide an income stream for any capital improvement projects leaving those investments to ownership. The Restoration Fund Office raises all the money required for the ongoing capital projects that ensure the structural integrity and long-term preservation of the National Historic Landmark.
Nike Xie, Phoebe Loh, John and Emalee Welsh, Derek Sung, and Brittany MacTaggart
DJ Eddie Tully
Pam and Nick Caruso
Michelle Boyles and Jimmy Contreras
Eileen Wixted and Elizabeth Scott
Evan Solomon, Howard Mandel, and Garret Desjardins
Sue Jacquette, Lynsie Solomon and Pam Caruso
Kristyn Aldrich and Ian Michael Crumm
Nina Radcliff and Marty Judge
Frank Caruso, Doris Parent, Kelly Zhou, Robert Redden, and Kelli Caldwell
Sue Jacquette, Lynsie Solomon and Pam Caruso
Martin Ihrig and Brian Lipstein
Emily Rollet, and Shannon Bramham
Brian Lipstein and Tiffany Nguyen doing the Pulp Fiction on the dance floor.
Thanks to Andre Flewellen for shooting the AOMYF Monster Ball
Christopher Emery, Claire Allamby, Heather Emery and William Rossi
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.
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
Janice Wright Waitkus and Bob Waitkus
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
