Margaret Alkek Williams Contributes $4 million Gift to Houston Grand Opera

HGO Chairman Mr. Glen Rosenbaum today announced that Houston Grand Opera had received a major donation of $4 million from The Alkek and Williams Foundation for the creation of the Margaret Alkek Williams General Director Chair Fund. This endowed Chair recognizes Margaret Alkek Williams, a major philanthropic figure in Houston and a longtime supporter of HGO.

Speaking at the annual Opera Ball, Mr. Rosenbaum said; "For over four decades, Houston Grand Opera has been fortunate to have the support and involvement of Margaret Alkek Williams and her family. Margaret's generosity has impacted almost every aspect of the company. Tonight, we are privileged to announce that Margaret has made a $4 million dollar endowment grant to HGO to establish the Margaret Alkek Williams General Director Chair. This gift, one of the largest in HGO's 56 year history, will support the company and enhance its international reputation in perpetuity."

Mrs. William's said, "It's an honor to be here tonight for this announcement. Houston Grand Opera means so much to me personally. From attending HGO performances with my parents, to the days when I sang with the HGO Chorus in productions like Turandot, La Traviata, and Romeo and Juliet, to serving on the HGO Board since 1980, this opera company, and the people like you who also love it, has been such an important part of my life. My parents taught me the importance of volunteering and supporting organizations, like HGO, that make our community truly special. And my mother passed on her love of music and theater to me. I have cherished these gifts from my parents all of my life. So, at this wonderful Ball, chaired by my dear friend Rudy, I could not be more pleased to be able to make this gift, establishing the General Director Chair. I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful company, and the thrilling and important work it does, both on and off the stage.Thank you all for being here tonight, and thank you for supporting Houston Grand Opera."

HGO General Director Anthony Freud said; "Margaret's tremendous generosity in creating the Margaret Alkek Willams General Director Chair is the most spectacular of countless examples of her transformational philanthropy, for which both HGO and our city as a whole are deeply grateful. I couldn't be more thrilled that her decades of commitment to and support of HGO will now be permanently recognized and honored as a result of this wonderful endowed gift. I have been deeply touched and inspired by Margaret's passion, enthusiasm and wise counsel throughout my time at HGO. The company is enormously grateful to her".

This endowed gift will be an invaluable source of sustainable revenue, and an investment in HGO's long-term viability as a cultural service provider to the city of Houston. The company owes much of its success to the generosity and commitment of its patrons. Ticket sales account for around only a quarter of the operating costs of HGO and the generosity of private individuals makes an enormous difference to the continued strength and vibrancy of the organization.

Mrs. Williams became formally involved with Houston Grand Opera through her mother's love of music and theater. Carrying on a long family tradition of philanthropy, Mrs. Williams is the Chairman of the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation which, since 1997, has underwritten two HGo Productions each year and also supports the HGO Studio (through Concert of Arias) and the Opera Ball.

In 2006, Mrs. Williams, through the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation became the first patron on HGO's Founders Council for Artistic Excellence.

Mrs. Williams began her artistic career at the age of five with her first performance as Snow White. She performed as the principal in many musicals and operettas throughout her childhood and in college, and later performed in Philadelphia with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. After returning home to Houston in 1960, Mrs. Williams sang with the Houston Grand Opera Chorus in productions such as Turandot, La Traviata, and Romeo and Juliet.

Mrs. Williams has lent her time and talent to many events, most recently serving as Chair for the Opening Night Dinner Celebration for Madame Butterfly in 2010. Besides Madame Butterfly, other recent productions supported by Mrs. Williams include Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, the world premiere of Brief Encounter, The Elixir of Love, Xerxes, and the upcoming Ariadne auf Naxos.

HGO has proudly recognized Mrs. Williams support; in 2000 honoring her with the Masterson Award for her generous support of HGO and in 2009 Mrs. Williams was the honoree of Opera Ball 2009: Intermission at the Opera, a Parisian Promenade.

Biography:

Margaret Alkek Williams has two enduring passions - philanthropy and the performing arts. She has focused her talent and energy on those passions throughout her life. Margaret's parents, Margaret and Albert Alkek were the most influential people in her life. They worked very hard in the family businesses and still found time to volunteer and support charitable organizations.

It was her mother's love of music and theatre that Margaret has shared and cherished all of her life. She began her artistic career at the age of five with her first performance as Snow White. She performed as the principal in many musicals and operettas throughout her childhood. While in college, she was the principal singer in Hansel and Gretel, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Carousel. She later performed in Philadelphia with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society. After returning to Houston in 1960, Margaret sang with the Houston Grand Opera Chorus in productions such as Turandot, La Travata, and Romeo and Juliet.

Over the years, Margaret and her family have given millions of dollars to support the performing arts, education and medical research. She is known for her outstanding charitable work on behalf of non-profit organizations in Houston and across the state.

Margaret is currently the Chairman of the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation and a Trustee of the Alkek and Williams Foundation. She serves on many non-profit boards, including Texas Heart Institute, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health, Methodist Hospital's Center for Performing Arts Medicine, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, Alley Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars, Society for the Performing Arts and University of Houston's Moores School of Music. She also served on the Board of Directors for Virtuosi from 1999-2001.

Margaret has lent her time and talent to chairing many events, including the 70th Anniversary Gala Concert in 1983 for the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera's Opening Night Dinner Celebration Madame Butterfly in 2010. Also, she has co-chaired the 4th Annual Gala in 1970 for St. Joseph Hospital Foundation, the Denton A. Cooley Leadership Award Dinner in 1996 and 2006, and the Texas Heart Institute and the Silver Slipper Award Evening for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 1998.

 

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