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146 R ound Top Festival Institute — one of America's most unique p e r f o r m i n g a r t s destinations — hits the highest notes next spring. Calendar this date: Saturday, April 18, 2020, for A Golden Jubilee of Music Gala. It's a celebration of the half-century E verybody loves Paul Michael. Ask any Round Top dealer what's new and noteworthy, and more often than not, they end their debriefings with: "And you've spoken to Paul, right?" Perched on a rise on Highway 237, Paul Michael's Market Hill is 130,000 square feet of space with 26 vendors during the antique shows in the spring and fall, with 11,000 square feet devoted to Paul Michael Company. The Michael family opened Market Hill in Round Top in 2015 after attending the antiques shows for 20 years. "Starting out as buyers at Round Top, we saw an opportunity to show our merchandise there, but there wasn't a place that could accommodate us," says Elizabeth Michael, the couple's A 50 th FÊTE FOR FESTIVAL HILL A CHAT WITH PAUL MICHAEL THE ROMANCE OF ROUND TOP since a young Tchaikovsky competition pianist was encouraged by Miss Ima Hogg to look around Round Top to establish a center for music education and a festival; its alum now number 2,500 musicians, selected for Festival Hill's fiercely competitive summer music program, from 25 states and 11 foreign countries, and taught by classical professors and symphonic talents such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The grand evening takes place on the 200-acre grounds of Festival Institute. The night honors: founder, artistic director, and international pianist James Dick; gifted young musicians who have attended and performed at the institute; and the memory of Richard Royall, founding with wife Debbie. He began importing home accessories he discovered while abroad, and over time began manufacturing and designing his own furniture and accessories collections that are crafted in their Dermott, Arkansas woodshop, with the majority honed from architectural salvage and reclaimed wood. What's new for fall? While agate- slice side tables have been recent top sellers at Market Hill, Michael is betting on a new collection of furniture and accessories utilizing a Japanese wood- burning technique called shou sugi ban, which his son Jake is building. Market Hill's concert series continues, with Black Cat Choir Sunday and Monday, September 29 and 30; Kimberly Dunn Tuesday, October 1; and The Heart Collectors Friday and Saturday, October 4 and 5, along with multiple whole-hog roasts and themed dinners. Follow on Instagram @market_hill_round_top for details and dinner announcements. Paul Michael Company, Market Hill, 1542 Hwy. 237 North, paulmichaelcompany. c o m , m a r k e t h i l l r o u n d t o p . c o m . Anne Lee Phillips daughter. (The other two Michael children also work for the family business — Mary heads up the online store and marketing, and Jake manages Market Hill and makes furniture). "That's why Paul built his own venue." Michael founded his home- furnishings business in Arkansas in 1993 managing director. Lilla Blackburn and Lisa Mayer step us as co-chairs. Expect musicians and conductors to travel in from around the nation, with Round Top's and Houston's most devoted cultural patrons in attendance. A Golden Jubilee of Music Gala features cocktails, seated black- tie dinner under a festive tent, live and silent auctions, musical duets, dancing to a jazz band, and a walk down memory lane via 50 years of photos and videos documenting the decades since Festival Institute's founding. Tickets $250, tables $3,000; information Lamar Lentz, lamarl@festivalhill.org, or Pat Johnson, patj@festivalhill.org; 979.249.3129. Catherine D. Anspon Paul Michael Edythe Bates Old Chapel, Round Top Festival Institute Festival Hill