Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1162046
40 C'EST L'AMOUR CLIBURN THE BY CHRISTINA GEYER. PHOTOGRAPHY JOYCE MARSHALL. W hen Cami Goff invited me as her guest at the Classically Cliburn Gala, I couldn't resist. For one, I have long adored The Cliburn and its commitment to supporting classical piano music. Just a few months prior, one of the protégé pianists from The Cliburn's internationally renowned competition had played at a dinner party in Dallas — stunning our group with his talent and style. And with the launch of PaperCity Fort Worth, I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet some of the city's most noteworthy arts patrons and reconnect with old friends. First observation: The Cliburn does black tie unlike any other. Women were perfectly turned out in evening gowns by classic designers (Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, et al.), and diamonds and pearls were worn in a Goldilocks way: not too big, not too small, but just right. Of the nearly 500 guests who descended on Ridglea Country Club that evening, few were more resplendent than Anne Marie Bratton, who co-chaired alongside her husband, Doug Bratton; Anne Marie quite literally glowed in a gold-embroidered gown. The evening honored Mildred Hedrick Fender, a longtime supporter of The Cliburn — and the vibe was every inch celebratory. The Brattons gave the gala a Parisian joie de vivre theme, with a classic casino à la Monte Carlo and a seated dinner that felt more like an intimate French supper club than a large-scale soirée. But the real homage to the City of Light came by way of musician Jimmy Vali and his 13-piece band, which played late into the evening; not one person missed his or her chance on the dance floor. Call it a one-night return to la belle époque. SEEN: The Cliburn's president and CEO Jacques Marquis and board chairman Jeffrey B. King; Kim and Glenn Darden; Anne and Robert Bass; Olivia and Jeff Kearney; Anne and Robert Self; Michelle and Tom Purvis; Marsha Kleinheinz; Mercedes Bass; Judy Ney; Maggie and Robert Murchison; and Will Moncrief. with Robert M. & Anne T. Bass Marsha Kleinheinz, Mercedes Bass, Judy Ney Miles Bratton, Bailey Self Christopher Weber, Wesley & Keller Reese Sam Holland, Shirley McIntyre Doug Bratton Maggie & Robert Murchison Jarrett & Hannah Watkins, Chelsea Adler, Patrick Griffith Jacques Marquis, Jeffrey King Anne Marie Bratton, Mildred Hedrick Fender Gene Schneider, Vivienne Wilson, Lisa Schneider