The Guild is launching its 2020-2021 Musical Feast season with a special program designed for social distancing, outdoor beauty, and, as always, delicious refreshments. And, in light of our upside-down world, we will be accepting donations, either on the website or at the door.

This Feast features a spectacular Bonsai Garden tour and talk with Bonsai expert Daniel Coffey. The tour will take place at the beautiful Reynolds Mountain home of Lori and Bob Herlin, where Lori has designed the most extensive, exquisitely nuanced miniature Bonsai garden in Asheville. Daniel Coffey, Asheville’s own Bonsai expert, will give you pointers about the care and propagation of various styles of Bonsai using Lori’s beautiful Bonsai collection. Along with the Bonsai, you can take in the gorgeous long views of the Grove Park Inn, Beaver Lake, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

A white wine punch and delectable treats will be served. An optional (but equally fascinating) choice will be to follow a tour along Lori’s “enchanted forest” trail that winds through their back woods. It’s not long, but it is hilly, so wear comfortable shoes if you’d like to join the stroll. Lori spent years developing these trails before Bonsai captured her passion.

This event will follow safe distancing and is primarily an outdoor event. Masks will be required. Each segment will host just 10 guests, who will rotate through each tour and talk.

NOTE: This home is accessed by a steep driveway. The optional walk in the woods is also hilly. Please wear comfortable shoes.

Bonsai Garden Walk & Talk

DATE: Sept. 17, 2020

TIME: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

COST: The original cost was $65 per person. We are accepting donations in lieu of a set payment.

Register Now

REMEMBER: You must have renewed your Guild membership for 2020-2021 to be eligible to attend.

Information regarding the entire Musical Feast season will be available on the website.

The Annual Meeting of the Asheville Symphony Guild was held on June 30, 2020 and thanks to the many participants in front of and behind the Zoom screen it was a great success! 

View the minutes of this meeting.

 

Dear Asheville Symphony Guild Members,

We have some exciting news to announce! Guild members now have a unique opportunity to support our acclaimed Music in the Schools program. With your help, this program will expand to reach more than 7,000 students and provide classical music experiences to 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in all Asheville City and Buncombe County public, private, charter and home schools through a virtual curriculum.

Our Brunk Auction fundraiser is off and running!  The professionals at Brunk have chosen the items donated by Guild members to be included in the auction catalog and offered for sale in an online auction on October 2 and 3, 2020.  Stay tuned for how you can participate as we get closer to the date. 

Many, many thanks to all who offered items for auction!  Not all were accepted, but we stand to realize an excellent return from this fundraiser.  The proceeds will directly benefit the Music in the Schools programs ad the musicians involved.

Note: This new fundraising effort is in addition to an “Estate Sale” to be announced for Spring 2021 in conjunction with the Bridge Foundation (formerly CarePartners).

It’s always time to celebrate the rich culture of our traditional and beautiful Appalachian music.

Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth are performing on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at 7:00 PM at the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 789 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville.

Laura has won glowing reviews wherever she appears and is blessed with an ‘essence of the mountains spirit.’ Laura will be in the company of Josh Goforth, an outstanding musician, acclaimed fiddler, guitar picker and mandolin player. He is one of Madison County’s best at bringing the old time music traditions to today’s audiences. Together they are two names that fans of Appalachian music already know and love.

Open to all, free-will donations will be gladly accepted.

Brought to you by the Asheville Symphony Guild, this program complements Aaron Copland’s famous Appalachian Spring, to be performed by the Asheville Symphony Orchestra on February 22.

Learn more

Looking ahead, our next Guild program will take place on Thursday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, located at 789 Merrimon Avenue.

This is an evening of traditional Appalachian music, performed by Josh Goforth andLaura Boosinger, as we anticipate the Mountains to Sea concert on Feb. 22 that features Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland.

For those who missed them, here is a photo of Franklin Keel and Guild member Cynthia Keever performing for us at the November Guild program. Franklin presented a fascinating overview of the history of the cello and then brought us into the present with his electric cello. He plays both beautifully!

Our fall Musical Feasts have been educational, enjoyable, full of good food and even better company.  We’ve made lots of new friends and connected with friends of long-standing. Here are a few pictures of some recent fun.