Regional Orchestra of the Week: Asheville Symphony, NC

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to announce its newest series - the Featured Symphony Orchestra of the Week!

Today's Featured Orchestra is the Asheville Symphony with its base in Asheville, North Carolina!

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra performs and promotes symphonic music for the benefit, enjoyment and education of the people of Western North Carolina.

The Asheville Symphony was established in 1960. At that time, all musicians performed on a volunteer basis and the Symphony was without a resident conductor or manager.

Between 1960 and 1970, the Symphony grew in size, a part time resident manager and conductor were hired, paid guest artists were introduced, choral and youth ensembles were formed, a Symphony Guild was formed, a regular season with subscription sales was developed, and the concerts were moved from school and church auditoriums to the 2,354 seat Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

Funding for the Symphony was basically limited to ticket sales, contributions and Guild fund-raising efforts. In 1977, all musicians were paid for the first time, and the first meaningful foundation grant of $10,000 was received. The budget at that time was $40,000.

In 1978, the first full time manager was hired, and in 1980, the first resident, full-time conductor was brought to Asheville. With the new conductor, Robert Hart Baker, the orchestra grew dramatically both in size and quality. Dr. Baker left the orchestra in June of 2004. After a two year search and audition process, Daniel Meyer was hired as the new Music Director in December 2004.

The Symphony presents seven full orchestra concerts per year in the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville's US Cellular Center. Each concert features a performance by a guest artist. The Symphony's programming reflects a desire to present both the "old favorites" as well as more recent works. In addition to the regular subscription series, the orchestra presents a Classical Christmas.

Upcoming concert events include The American Four Seasons on March 16, Mozart's Requiem on April 20, and Rite of Spring on May 11, 2013.

To learn more about Asheville Symphony, click here.

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Info and photos courtesy of Asheville Symphony.