Press Release from the Asheville Symphony:
The Asheville Symphony has received a generous grant of $50,000 from The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust to bolster and amplify its community engagement and outreach efforts. This funding will galvanize the Asheville Symphony’s annual Symphony in the Park free community concert on August 27 in downtown’s Pack Square Park and further enhance the ALT ASO series, an innovative initiative enabling the Asheville Symphony to perform at unconventional venues across Western North Carolina such as breweries, music clubs, museums, and bars.
“We are immensely grateful for The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust’s investment in the Asheville Symphony’s community engagement and outreach programming,” said Asheville Symphony Executive Director Daniel Crupi. “Both projects have proven to be some of the Symphony’s most popular engagement opportunities, last year reaching more than 10,000 patrons across Western North Carolina.”
These initiatives will be realized through collaborative partnerships with diverse organizations and music venues spanning Asheville and the broader region. Symphony in the Park, which was originally designed as the Asheville Symphony’s gift to the community during the COVID shutdown, is a free public performance that typically draws nearly 7,000 adults, children, residents, and tourists each year. The ALT ASO series takes place in venues across the region like Highland Brewing, the Orange Peel, the Mule at Devil’s Foot Brewing and more. This series engages younger audiences that are excited to see orchestral music in a variety of genres and in unexpected locations.
“We are hoping to truly reach all of Asheville with both of these programs,” said Crupi. “Initiatives like Symphony in the Park and ALT ASO are inherently expensive. Ticket revenue does very little to offset the expense of these concerts – hence why funding from institutions such as The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust is so critical. Investments such as these go a very long way toward making this scope of programming possible.”
The William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust grant will support the following shows during the Asheville Symphony’s 2023-2024 season:
Symphony in the Park
August 27, 2023, at 7 p.m.Downtown Asheville’s Pack Square Park
The third-annual Symphony in the Park pops concert will feature selections from classic movie scores by Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, James Horner and more! This concert is free and open to the public.
ALT ASO at Highland Brewing: Music of the 1980s
November 7, 2023, 7 p.m.
Highland BrewingALT ASO returns to Highland Brewing featuring the royalty of totally tubular 80s music. We dare you to resist busting a move and dancing along to hits from Madonna, Michael Jackson, the Police, and much more. Practice your big hair routine, throw on those leg warmers, and get ready to party to the max alongside members of your Asheville Symphony.
ALT ASO at The Orange Peel: Rock & Heavy Metal
January 23, 2024, 7 p.m.
The Orange Peel
We’re headed back to Asheville’s most iconic music venue to rock out to some epic rock ’n’ roll and heavy metal guitar riffs. From Led Zeppelin to classical Spanish guitar back to Metallica and more, our “mesmerizing” guitarist, JIJI, will hop across genres to present a mind-blowing program where symphonic elegance meets hard-hitting rock ‘n’ roll.
ALT ASO at the Asheville Masonic Temple
March 12, 2024, 7 p.m.
Asheville Masonic Temple
Featuring Reinhardt, Vivaldi, and a variety of traditional tunes from klezmer, bluegrass, and beyond, this program brings ALT ASO to Downtown Asheville’s stunning Masonic Temple for a concert showcasing the incredible and bizarre range of violin styles.
ALT ASO at the Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Co.
May 21, 2024, 7 p.m.
The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Co.
Known for his genre-bending projects with operatic and Broadway productions in addition to the world’s great symphony orchestras, artist and Asheville resident Adam Larsen brings video projection design to ALT ASO for a uniquely immersive performance at Devil’s Foot Beverage Co.’s taproom. Paired with an innovative symphonic program, this performance will be unlike any other, uniting visual art and orchestral sounds for a truly unique experience.
The Asheville Symphony Orchestra’s dedication to symphonic music is designed to benefit, entertain, and educate the people of Western North Carolina. Complementary organizations include the Asheville Symphony Guild, Asheville Symphony Chorus, Asheville Symphonettes, and educational initiatives like the Asheville Buncombe Youth Orchestra, Music in the Schools, MusicWorks, Spotlight on Young Musicians, Symphony Talk, and pre-concert lectures. To learn more about the Asheville Symphony Orchestra and its diverse offerings, please visit www.ashevillesymphony.org.
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