Music has a unique way of weaving through the fabric of personal and shared experiences, and for Laura Harris-Means and Patrick Means, it has been a constant thread throughout their relationship. From their first date at a Dallas Symphony Orchestra concert to their wedding at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, music—and particularly the DSO—has played a central role in their lives.
As co-chairs of the 2024 DSO Symphony Gala, Laura and Patrick reflect on their connections to the DSO, the lessons they’ve learned through their musical journeys, and their passion for the orchestra’s educational and community outreach initiatives. Their insights offer a glimpse into how music continues to inspire and shape both their personal and professional lives.
PATRON: The Dallas Symphony played a key role in your relationship as a couple. On your first date, you attended a DSO concert, and you were married at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center this past December. What do you wish more people knew about the romance of the Dallas Symphony?
Patrick Means (PM): The symphony hall is of course amazing and one of the best in the country, but it’s not just a symphony hall. It’s everything from the grand entrance, the radial stairs, and the windows to the ceilings. It really makes the perfect place for a date night all the way to your wedding showcasing the beauty of the location and enhancing any event.
Laura Harris-Means (LHM): I wish more people knew that the Dallas Symphony is a place for everyone. While there is certainly a romantic component for us, there are so many ways people can engage in the beauty that is the DSO. They offer something for everyone all year long. From their “Tchaikovsky X Drake” performance, to traditional classical, the symphony’s way of integrating movies in performances, and of course the Holiday Pops concerts!
P: You both studied the violin growing up and have talked of music’s impact on future generations. Is there a lesson you’ve learned from your own music pursuits that has aided your personal growth?
PM: Playing the violin taught me discipline. I certainly wanted to make sure that I was doing my part in the orchestra that I was involved in. I have taken that lesson into many years of continuing to practice and develop a skill. And of course that takes work. You don’t see the results overnight, but over time you keep working and you keep getting better and better.
LHM: Sometimes it’s not what you are doing at the moment, but rather the JOURNEY that shapes who you are. My parents knew I would NEVER be a concert violinist, but they also knew it was a wonderful way for me to stretch a talent I probably didn’t even know I had. It was a way to learn something they never had the opportunity to do. It was a way for me to do something other than a sport and know that even if it’s not in your orbit at the time, there’s always a way to keep culture in your universe.
P: Will you please tell us about the DSO’s Young Strings and Young Musicians and the orchestra’s education and community outreach initiatives the gala benefits?
PM: Many don’t know that throughout the last 32 years the Young Strings has been in existence, they have served some 5,000 students. They provide instruments, weekly lessons, and so much more to students who are living in areas where they may not be introduced to the arts, whether that be because of financial obstacles or other reasons. The reason Young Strings was created in the early 1990’s was to address under representation in music education and the arts. It’s proof that the DSO has been forward thinking when it comes to diversity, well before it was a headline.
Similarly, the Kim Noltemy Young Musicians program provides free instruments specifically to students in first through eighth grades in southern Dallas. It’s a newer program offering group lessons and orchestral work including strings, brass, percussion, and so much more. Even though Kim has moved on to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, her leadership and forward thinking when it comes to diversity in the arts will forever be a cornerstone for the DSO and the community it serves.
P: Pianist Lang Lang’s foundation mirrors the art and education initiatives at the DSO Have you heard the DSO Gala headliner perform? What should the audience know about him?
LHM: The audience should expect A SHOW! This is not just a concert, but a 360° stimulating event! One patron who has already purchased a table to the Gala told us she wants to sit in the front row just to see his fingers move across the keys! He is a world-renowned pianists known for drawing in his audiences with style, grace and superstar talent. Not to mention this is a one-night only event, as he has no appearances on the calendar for Dallas this year!
P: Laura, you engage both your left-brained and right-brained proclivities as an Emmy Award–winning news anchor, and as a musician. What types of music keeps you inspired? Favorite artists?
LHM: I’m inspired by EVERYTHING. From neo-soul, to rock, to my favorite genre of country, artists pour their hearts out in their lyrics and their work to produce something very intimate to share. It’s a brave career and one that I appreciate on so many levels. It depends on what I’m doing that dictates what’s on my playlist… but a quick glance at the last three songs on my phone: Billie Eilish, Whitney Houston, Rascal Flatts (told you it was all over the place!)
P: Patrick, you are the Vice President/Branch Manager at Charles Schwab and lead a team of financial consultants who help clients achieve their financial goals. Has being arts-passionate impacted your success in business?
PM: Many of our clients who we serve have different passions and interests and one of the ways we build relationships with them is both parties sharing what they love. I think the success comes from those individuals knowing that we have common interests, specifically around supporting the arts community. In this case, giving those opportunities to those who want to explore musical education but may not have the resources to do so.
P: Will you share what you’re both wearing to the Symphony Gala?
PM: I will certainly be in a black tuxedo but will add a touch of PJM style.
LHM: You’ll have to come to find out! 🙂
P: Complete this sentence: Music is…
PM: Music is something that brings people from all walks of life together.
LHM: Music is an incredibly beautiful way to uplift the soul.