Houston Symphony Magazine spoke with Stephen and Mariglyn Glenn, musician sponsors, in December 2010. This conversation is reprinted from the January 2011 issue.
Birthplace: Stephen – Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Mariglyn – Coleman, Texas
Education: Stephen–Texas Tech, BS, engineering physics; Rice University, MS, space physics. Mariglyn – Texas Tech, BS, education (we met in chemistry lab)
Joined the Houston Symphony: We began attending in 1966, but took time out to raise kids. We returned in 1995.
Earliest musical memory: Stephen – Denver Symphony on a fifth-grade field trip; Mariglyn – Roy Orbison singing at a Wink, Texas, school assembly
All in the family: Our sons were pretty good high school musicians. One was an all-state French hornist for two years, and another studied percussion at the University of Michigan.
Current listening: the Houston Symphony’s Christmas CD
Looking forward to in the 2010-2011 Season: Classical, Pops, specials – we love them all! We are especially looking forward to Aralee Dorough playing a Mozart Flute Concerto in April.
Favorite part of the Symphony experience: We love the great Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Mahler symphonies.
Pastime and good company: We both enjoy attending high school football games. Stephen enjoys running and computers. Mariglyn enjoys cooking, spending time with grandkids, aerobics and yoga.
Meeting your musician: We met our musician through a Symphony staff member during the intermission of a Very Merry Pops performance. It has been great getting to know Christian and we have found that we have many things in common. It turns out that Christian was good friends with the musician we previously sponsored who left the symphony a few years ago. All the musicians are very special people, and we have special memories of them.
All for a reason: The Houston Symphony enriches our lives and broadens our horizons. We wanted to become more involved with the Symphony, but we had no idea it would be so rewarding when we became patrons!
Pass it on: We would definitely encourage others to become musician sponsors! Meeting the musicians and attending special events is priceless. It’s the best investment we’ve ever made. Also, it gives us a person to “root” for when the Symphony performs.
