I will be participating in the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society‘s annual gala, An Auction of Arias, at 7pm on Saturday, May 18, at Ouisie’s Table in River Oaks. Our Auction of Arias lets you shape the evening’s entertainment! Guests will get to bid for the opportunity to select the next song to be performed. The songs will be grouped in three courses: Appetizer, Main Course, and Dessert. The winning bidders can choose from a select number of options for that course, with many Gilbert and Sullivan favorites but also arias from opera and musical theater. Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo’ Randolph Holford will be our auctioneer for this exciting event.

Whether I will sing or not is up to you…high bidder gets to pick the next song over the course of the evening. Coupled with some other great experiences and the always amazing cuisine served at Ouisie’s Table, this is an event you do not want to miss. Get your tickets now at
https://events.readysetauction.com/gilbertandsullivansocietyhouston/2024gala

I am honored to be the newly-elected president of the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston. I want to state my gratitude for the leadership of our immediate past president, Steve McCary, who remains on the board and will chair the production committee.

Members of the board thought I should introduce myself, so – if you want to know who I am – read on.

My love of Gilbert & Sullivan came about through my father, Jerry, who bought a cassette of G&S “greatest hits” after watching the movie Chariots of Fire, in which the music of G&S figures quite prominently. We played that tape endlessly on family road trips and learned all the songs by heart. The next year, Beaumont Civic Opera decided to perform H.M.S. Pinafore and my entire family – my father, my mother Norma, my brother David, and myself – all sang in the chorus. I’ve been hooked ever since.

I joined the Society in 1990 when I became a chorister for Yeoman of the Guard. In the ensuing third of a century I have sung in the chorus, understudied, performed lead roles, created the Society’s first website, worked in the box office, cleaned the warehouse, served on the board, organized sing-alongs, and bicycled from Houston to Chicago to fundraise for the Society. Through the Society I have made life-long friends and met the love of my life, Anne née Curran…herself a lifetime Houston G&S member, being the daughter of former Society performer Diana Linder and step-daughter of our long-time conductor Robert Linder.

I have also performed G&S roles at the Hot Springs Music Festival and with the Young Artists program at the International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, and was the éminence grise of the Rice Light Opera Society, where I also was a performer, director (both stage and technical), and producer. I have appeared as a soloist and member of the ensemble with many churches, synagogues, and other groups in Houston, including the Bach Society and Cantare, and was executive director of Opera Vista, a recipient of The Houston Press’s Mastermind Award, where I staged world premiers of several operas.

When I’m not involved in a performance, you can find me working as a freelance IT consultant, driving our daughter Kate to rehearsals, or cycling on back roads around Houston.

I look forward to continuing our mission of bringing first-rate productions of these wonderful operas to Houston audiences, and I thank you all for your continued support as we build on the success of the past seventy-two years.

Joe Carl White
President
The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston

Gilbert and Sullivan - Pops of Sillery Join me and the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston as we celebrate at our annual spring fundraising Gala! This year will feature a cocktail party atmosphere with pop-up performances by Alistair Donkin and featured Society performers throughout the evening. Enjoy “pops of sillery” (champagne), light bites, and the wonderful songs of Gilbert & Sullivan while bidding on the silent auction, trying your luck on the wine pull, and enjoying a parade of G&S costumes.

This evening will also honor our outgoing Society President of 33 years, Steve Robbins, as the Society thanks him for his many years of devoted service. Help us ensure that the magic of Gilbert & Sullivan is available to Houstonians for years to come by hobnobbing with people of similarly exquisite taste while raising money for a delightful cause!

Dress: Cocktail Attire

Saturday, March 24, 6:00-8:30PM
MATCH – Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston
3100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002

Tickets: Order Online or call 713-521-4533

Lisa Trapani Shumate
Executive Director & General Manager
KUHA-FM Classical 91.7 Houston Public Radio
lshumate@houstonpublicmedia.org

Mrs. Shumate,

I am terribly disappointed at the news of the staff firings today. To do so after having just conducted a membership campaign is truly reprehensible. Therefore, I have cancelled my membership.

Sincerely,

Joe Carl White

N.B. Today, Mrs. Shumate fired 10 of the local announcers on our classical public radio station, after they completed the membership drive.

Howdy!

I would like to invite you to my concert Sentimental Journey: Threeton & White Do Songs of the 30’s & 40’s, on Saturday, October 12.

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