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Round Top Festival Hill Gala Was By Susannah Mikulin. Photography Chris Pierre Bachman. I t may have been the first time in auctioneer Gayle Stallings' career that the lighting fixture in the venue became one of the most coveted auction items. Suspended above the ballroom at the historic Round Top Rifle Hall, a dramatic art piece functioning as a chandelier — constructed entirely from glazed-white musical instruments — quickly became the star of Round Top Festival Institute's Harmony Under a Texas Star Gala. Designed by co- chair Dennis Brackeen, the installation inspired a passionate bidding frenzy led by board member Leslie Penello, ultimately raising $17,000 from supporters to collectively purchase the chandelier and gift it back to Festival Hill for permanent display. More than 300 guests rallied in support of Festival Hill's commitment to music education and artistic excellence. Gala co-chairs Brackeen and Jenna McPhail — who co-own Moxie Interiors, the beloved Houston antiques and design purveyor with a showroom at Market Hill — had transformed the Rifle Hall into a white-swathed tribute to the arts. The gala opened with Brackeen's surprise musical mash-up of Elton John's "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word," and Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money," proving he's one serious crooner. A solo cello performance by Iverson Eliopoulos, Wow Designed to Festival Hill alumnus and program director, exemplified the artistic excellence that has defined the organization for more than 55 years. Throughout the evening, guests were reminded of founder James Dick's vision of creating a world-class destination for music and education in rural Texas. Special recognition also went to Larry Birkelbach for his 50 years of contributions to the campus, particularly his leadership in the construction of the internationally acclaimed Festival Hill Concert Hall, one Texas' most recognizable landmarks. Royers Cafe presented the dinner, followed by live music from Pendulum Hearts. By night's end, the gala had generated more than $300,000 in support of Festival Hill's educational programs, artistic initiatives, and scholarships for young artists from all over the world. Spotted: Susan and Richard Ashcroft, Janet and Richard Schmidt, Jacquelyn and Steve Ditsler, Jane and Gary Swanson, Pam and Kelly Brooks, Randy Jones, John Poteet, Elizabeth and Robert Parry, Mark Mikulin, Judy Hancock, Julie Robertson, Jamie Lee Manning, Cinda and Armando Palacios, Greg Fourticq and John Cone, Beth Weishuhn and Andy Johnson, Melissa Roberts, Linda Plant, Ellen Hart, Wendy and Cade Burks, Casey and Charles Boettcher, and Emily and Jordan Drum. Co-chairs Dennis Brackeen Jenna McPhail Melissa Roberts, Linda Plant, Ellen Hart James Dick, Jacquelyn Ditsler Casey & Charles Boettcher Emily & Jordan Drum Iverson Eliopoulos Joyce Juskalian Jean Tone Cinda Palacios, Judy Hancock Julie Robertson Scott Noe, Courtney Jansky, Claudia Sierra 82