List of Supporters
SUPPORT MUSIC FOR ALL
Our Community
As a nonprofit organization, the Valley Symphony Orchestra relies upon the generous support of individuals, businesses, foundations, and civic and governmental agencies to help meet the substantial costs of our concerts and programs that deliver world-class artistic experiences to the community. Our supporters understand the importance of music and the arts, and are incredible partners in keeping the Rio Grande Valley’s cultural landscape thriving!
SPONSORS
2026/27 Season Sponsors
SEASON SUPPORTERS
National Endowment for the Arts
Loring Cook Foundation
Drs. Tawhid & Mihaela Shuaib
MAESTRO SPONSOR
Loring Cook Foundation
CONCERTMASTER SPONSOR
Drs. Tawhid and Mihaela Shuaib
CONCERT SPONSORS
Dr. William and Mrs. Evelyn Gillum - Music of the Greats
Frost Bank - A Touch of Frost
PRELUDE SPONSOR
Omar and Dr. Rutchie Contreras, High Point Home Health
CHORALE CONDUCTOR SPONSOR
Dr. Joseph & Suzi McDonald
EDUCATIONAL CONCERTS
Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation
Clark Knapp Honda / Clark Chevrolet*
*Student Chamber Spotlight Sponsor
CHAMBER CONCERTS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Levitt Foundation - Symphony in the Park
H-E-B - Symphony in the Park
Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP - Symphony in the Park
Dr. Carlos and Mrs. Stephanie Manrique de Lara - Merry & Bright
Dr. Daniel Ruiz, Jr. MD - Spring Strings
BROWNSVILLE CONCERT
Dr. Jason & Rhonda Phillips
PRINCIPAL MUSICIANS
Mrs. Trudie Elmore Abbott - Lindsey Gamble, Assistant Concertmaster; Philip Johnson, Principal Percussion;
Nicaulis Alliey-Escalona, Co-Principal Flute; Jennifer Miller, Principal Viola
Mr. Joshua Cummings - Melissa Vaughan, Principal Clarinet
Loring Cook Foundation - Matthew Gabriel, Principal Cello
Dr. Joel and Mrs. Cheryce George - Maria Fernanda Gonzalez, Principal Second Violin
Gary and Bailey Gurwitz - Scott Roeder, Principal Tuba
Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Amy Horton - Linda Chavez, Principal Piano
Mr. Glynn and Mrs. Kelly Morgan - Lindsey Gamble, Assistant Concertmaster; Philip Johnson, Principal Percussion;
Nicaulis Alliey-Escalona, Co-Principal Flute; Jennifer Miller, Principal Viola
PURE Physical Therapy & Pilates - Alex Sanso, Principal Trumpet
Drs. Tawhid and Mihaela Shuaib - David Cassady, Principal Bass
GUEST ARTIST & SOLOIST SPONSORS
Rio Bank - Asiya Korepanova, Music of the Greats
Texas Digestive Specialists - Mariachi Aztlán, ¡Cumbanchera Sinfónica!
Drs. Fuad and Liudmila Zayed - Andrey Ponochenvy, Spartacus Adventurous
SECTION MUSICIANS
Larry Helgeson and D’Lyle Selman - Adriana Olivan, Violin
SEASON HOTEL PARTNER
La Quinta Inn & Suites McAllen Convention Center
SEASON MEDIA PARTNERS
SEASON PIANO PARTNER
Valley Keyboards
Special thanks to
Larry Helgeson and
ABSOLUTE Services
for providing in-kind alarm and security systems for our new office.
ANNUAL CONTRIBUTORS
The following listings represent giving January 1, 2026 through October 8, 2026.
VIRTUOSO SUSTAINER - $20,000+
City of McAllen*
Loring Cook Foundation
Frost Bank*
Rea Charitable Trust
Drs. Tawhid and Mihaela Shuaib*
OPUS SUSTAINER - $10,000+
Mrs. Trudie Elmore Abbott*
ABSOLUTE Services
AEP Foundation
Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP*
Dr. Fredericka Borland
Omar and Rutchie Contreras, High Point Home Health*
Clark Knapp Honda / Clark Chevrolet*
Dr. William and Mrs. Evelyn Gillum*
Nat R. & Martha M. Knaster Charitable Trust
Mr. Glynn and Mrs. Kelly Morgan
PNC Foundation
Texas Commission on the Arts
CRESCENDO SUSTAINER - $5,000+
Mrs. Wanda Boush
Mr. Mislav & Mrs. Candy Caric
Patty and Larry Fallek / Castle Hospitality*
Dr. Joel and Mrs. Cheryce George*
Mr. and Mrs. Gary and Bailey Gurwitz
H-E-B
Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Amy Horton
Alice Kleberg Reynolds Meyer Foundation
Levitt Foundation
Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Suzanne McDonald*
Dr. Carlos and Mrs. Stephanie Manrique de Lara*
Pure PT & Pilates
Rally Credit Union
Dr. Daniel Ruiz, Jr. MD
Texas Digestive Specialists*
Drs. Fuad and Liudmila Zayed*
ACCELERANDO SUSTAINER $2,500+
Mr. Charles & Mrs. Carolyn Bell, In Honor of Dr. William and Mrs. Evy Gillum
Joshua Cummings
Dr. Jason & Rhonda Phillips*
Jan Seale
Larry Helgeson and D’Lyle Selman
Rio Bank*
South Texas Health Systems*
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION $1,250
Tony De Leon
Dr. Armour & Susan Forse, In Memory of Alexander Armour Forse
The Kinerk Family, In Memory of Dr. Nedra Kinerk
Aziz Showery Insurance Agency, Inc.
Tavarez Family Legacy Fund, In Honor of Dr. Marvin & Alice Tavarez
SYMPHONY SUSTAINER $1,000+
Philip & Beth Brown*
Tom & Louise Butler
Michael Fallek
Mrs. Alta Forshage
Dr. Linette Linsangan
Maria Mohamed
Bill & Theresa Reagan
Dr. Roger and Mrs. Jolene Vitko, In Memory of Alice Tavarez
SYMPHONY PATRON $100 - $999
Priscilla Antonio & Samantha Salazar
Ms. Jo Barber
Victoria Barron
Ms. Deitrah Davis
Dr. Ashley Cruz and Dr. James Fahey
Ms. Trudy Field
Efrain Flores Jr.
Paul & Olga Gabriel
Ricardo Hernandez
Drs. Jaime & Maria Jimenez
David & Sandra Junkin
Kameros Family Giving Fund
Ms. Wilma M. Langhammer
Mr. & Mrs. David and Raquel Loman
Looney-Montgomery Foundation, In Honor of Trudie Abbott
Adrian Luna and MoonOwl Kitchen
Mr. Antonio Maldonado, Ing. & Dr. Linda Vazquez Maldonado
Irina & Merced Martinez
Marlane Meyer
Dr. JoAnn Mitchell
Drs. Christopher & Vivian Munn
Dr. Tom Pearson
Bill & Theresa Reagan
Karen Robacker
Irma Rosales
Victor and Kathryn Sansores
Ms. Lori D. Shontz
Dr. & Mrs. Sam and Gay Hargis, In Memory of Reba Showers
Mr. William Van Zant, In Honor of Mr. William Van Zant
Sharon Wilkes
Dr. Victor Zamora Legoff
SYMPHONY DONOR $1 - $99
Veronica Aguilar
Jesus Alaniz
Sonia Balboa
Johnathan Ball and Christy Caric-Ball
Mr. Ray R. Canales
Mr. Oscar Cano
Ms. Victoria Rose Cantu
Sandra Cardenas
Brandon Alexis Cardona
Mr. Aaron Cepeda
Robin Cowen
Ted Disque
Matthew Gabriel
Oscar Garcia
Mr. Rolando Garza
Ms. Lynda Grimaldo
Oscar Hernandez
Robin Lillard
Mr. Gabriel Limones
Mrs. Suzanne Mary McDonald
Esperanza Medina
Elieen Moore
Antonio Olivares
Jennifer Pena
Juan M. Perez
Lilia Perez
Reina Razo
Jose Recio
Melanie Rodriguez
Mr. Roberto Salazar
Vicki Spanogle
Mark Talbot
Cesar Tovar
Julia Trevino
Mae Wesson
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Cookie Co. Bakery
Raising Canes
Southern Roots Flower Market
TISCARENO Studio
*2026 Gala Donor
