The Beginners Club
General arrivals and the buzz of anticipation began before 8 p.m. at the New Orleans Country Club as formally attired guests gathered for a party favor. The inviting force was the New Orleans Debutante Club and the Presentation of its New Members. There are 20 of them.
Before the annual ball and presentation at 8:30 p.m., the debutantes, their parents and a few others gathered in the club’s Founders’ Room, where refreshments were set up. Obviously, timing was important, so it was more appropriate that the first debutante to appear before the audience – the ladies were seated, while the men stood – sang “Just in Time,” performed by the Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra conducted by his son, Robert Maxwell. Escorted by her father, like all but one of the debutantes (due to a long-standing family commitment elsewhere), was Miss Carolyn Taylor Welcomedaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Albert Bienvenu. Three Carnival ball captains were present in the ballroom: two to help the young women onto the stands and another to announce them.
The next debutantes were Misses Teresa Mallard Brewer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Wren Brewer; Annabelle Baldwin Browndaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Baldwin Brown; Abigail Hartsfield Chaffedaughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Blackshear Hamilton Chaffe IV; And Caroline Légier Delmerdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Scott Delmer. Miss Brewer’s signature song, “Fly Me to the Moon,” suggested a date with the stars. Of course, and more down to earth, were the stars of the evening: the new members of the Club des Debutantes.
Successive bows were made by the young ladies Adelaide Bouligny Gainesdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Michael Gaines; Madison Elizabeth Halesdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Benjamin Hales; Celia Shane Hardin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Simms Hardin; And Amie Havens briefcasedaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Prentiss Havens. One of the tracks, “Where or When,” suggested a theme of deja vu. A good number of those presented are daughters, even granddaughters, of former debutantes.
Miss May Heidingsfelder Manning, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cooper Archibald Manning, was the next to form a semi-circle on the ballroom floor. After her were Misses Morgan Elizabeth Naltydaughter of Mr. Morgan Shaw Nalty and Mrs. Jill Knight Nalty; Victoria Livaudais Nieset, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Robert Nieset Jr.; Charlotte Heyward Parrino, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Eugène Parrino; Tatum Lady Reissdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Joseph Reiss III; And Elizabeth Talbot Rogers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Ted Rogers III.
“An enchanted evening” – and it was! – played as Miss Sarah Butler Sumralldaughter of Dr. and Mrs. William David Sumrall IIIstrode forward. The ultimate duo was Misses Patricia Diane Taylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Frank Taylor III; And Laura Elise Vickerydaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Benton Vickery III.
Last year’s debutant, Miss Emily Baldwin Johnsondaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Noel Johnson Jr., arrived to cap off the formalities and lead the group’s bow as 2024 President of the Club des Debutantes. During the recent Carnival season, she reigned as queen of Proteus. The vice-president of the club, Miss Marguerite Conery Schmidtdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Justin Burton Schmidt, was also present. She wore Oberon’s crown in February. Two of the new club members were queens during their high school years, Miss Vickery for Squires and Miss Reiss for Apollo.
As expected, some Debs from the current season, also new members of the Beginner Club, were unable to be present: Mary Grace Jenkins And Hélène Landry Young. Their parents are Mr. and Mrs. Richard Scott Jenkins And Dr. and Mrs. Thomas William Young.
When the 18 new members were assembled on stage, they curtsied in unison under Miss Johnson’s signal to a warm ovation from the guests. A royal blue backdrop was centered with a large ornate gold crest of the Debutante Club. Red and blush roses in large white urns, along with planters and topiaries surrounded by greenery, beautified the scene. Twinkling white lights were inserted into these latter arrangements.
Always a sentimental favorite, the father-daughter dance consisted of “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.” A general mix-up ensued, as did compliments addressed to the girls and their loved ones. About an hour later, the host parents and their daughters retired to their individual tables for the sumptuous breakfast. But not for long.
The beat became a lure and a crowd headed to the dance floor to revel in the momentum of Maxwell’s music and the joy of this festive occasion.
The singles club
A champagne toast by William Henry Breaux, president of the Bachelors’ Club of New Orleans, took place during the two-hour cocktail reception preceding the annual presentation. This happened in the St. James Room at the Hilton Riverside. There, the tables were decorated with white candles; roasted tomato crostini, bacon-wrapped shrimp, and vegetarian spring rolls delighted the collective palate; and the New Orleans Banjos + 2 (Mizie Licciardi) provided the musical menu.
Miss Blythe Virginie Bouzadaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Michael Bouza, was the first debutante in the program list with M. Charles William Walsten as his escort. She was unable to attend.
Six debutantes then treated. They were Misses Riley Mains Brennan, daughter of Mr. Jeffrey Curtis Brennan and Mrs. Ariana Chrestia Brennanand escort Mr. Blake Lawrence Esquire; Rachel Keirsey Lavisdaughter of Mr. Charles Edward Lavis Jr. and Mrs. Amy Keirsey Lavisand escort Mr. David Gérard Trepagnier Jr.; Sophia Alise Linn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ralph Linn III, and escort Mr. Benjamin Lee Walker; Elizabeth Brinkmann-Maniscalco, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Maniscalco, and escort Mr. Joseph Jackson Maniscalco; Peyton Tremé McQueen, daughter of Mr. John McQueen and Mrs. Anne McQueenand escort Mr. Daniel Glynn Leithman; And Cameron Crawford Metzinger, daughter of Dr. Stephen E. Metzinger and Dr. Rebecca Metzingerand escort Mr. Kerth Peterson Metzinger. For them and the following young girls, a meaningful song played as they attracted attention.
The others were Misses Riley-Anne Palmer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Trevor Palmer, and escort Mr. Andrew Carrère Dodenhoff; Hadley Chopin Pinkerton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Hodgson Pinkertonand escort Mr. Cooper Hughs Jordan; Eleanor McCall Plauché, daughter of Mr. Walter Evan Plauche and Mrs. Lisa Breeden Plauchéand escort Mr. Evan Jones Plauche; Caroline Crownover Koppel Shreiner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Robert Schreiner, and escort Mr. Edward Hamilton Koppel Schreiner; Sumerlin Grace Stewartdaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brian Stewart, and escort Mr. Raymond Andrew Walker; And Marie Elizabeth Toso, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brien James Tosoand escort Mr. John Sanford Rive III. Steve Boulanger created the bouquets of red roses with gold ribbon that the debutantes held.
After the presentation, a “first” dance invited the 12 honorees and their accompanists, many of whom were brothers. The second dance was reserved for beginners and their fathers.
Getting into the groove became the final course of action, thanks to the musical creation of Emily Nelson Entertainment. At least two generations took to the dance floor to dance to contemporary songs. The sounds stopped until late in the day.
“We felt like it was really a success,” said President William Breaux, who added that the Bachelors were happy to get to know their debutante honorees better. He concluded with “Everyone had a great time.”