Guild News through the year, by date

While we’re all at home, have you tuned into ASO@Home? 

In one-hour segments, our symphony musicians take us behind the scenes of their work together. Do you know what it’s like to sit in a particular section of the orchestra? What does a violinist hear and see that is different from the clarinetist? Who are our younger musicians and what are their favorite pieces? Do we have any composers of our own?

The remaining ASO@Home sessions, all on Tuesdays, are as follows:

• November 24 @ 11 a.m.: Get to Know the Winds
• December 1 @ 7 p.m.: Melding Genres & New Music Endeavors
• December 8 @ 7 p.m.: Percussionists on Beat
• December 15 @ 11 a.m.: Coffee Talk with Darko 

Additionally, you can watch any previous programs by clicking this link or by visiting the Asheville Symphony Orchestra website (ashevillesymphony.org) and clicking ASO@Home in the “About Us” drop-down tab.

A Successful Auction
Our Brunk Auction was a success! We will receive final sales totals soon and will pass them along to you when they’re ready.

Spring Estate Sale
Be thinking about our estate sale in late spring. Working with the WNC Bridge Foundation, formerly Care Partners, we will have a chance to clean out our closets, downsize furniture, make room for new artwork — all while raising funds for the Asheville Symphony. Look around this winter and plan ahead.

“Like” Us!
We have a new Facebook page! Search for Asheville Symphony Guild and “like” our page to follow along!

Music in the Schools Goes Virtual
The Guild’s virtual Music in the Schools program is nearly ready for students! Completely new and totally creative, this program will be available to all 2nd to 5th grade students in all Asheville and Buncombe County public, private, charter, and home schools. It will also be accessible through our library system and the Literacy Council. We will enjoy a preview soon! 

Musical Feasts Planned for March
Keep checking our website (ashevillesymphonyguild.org) for updates on our Musical Feasts program. We have a full roster of events planned, starting in March. Ongoing safety needs will inform us as we move forward.

Know Someone Who’s Not Receiving Emails?
Has a fellow Guild member said they are not receiving these electronic newsletters? Remind them to check their spam folders on a regular basis. 

Thank You!
We thank all our members for their continued support of the Guild, its work with our Symphony and its programs. Do stay safe and heathy! We hope to see you (virtually or otherwise) soon! 

So many Guild members offered up items for this Brunk auction, and for that, we thank you!

Dates for the next Brunk Auction fundraiser are now set. This next auction will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 and Friday, Oct. 23. All items will have a notation that reads: “Proceeds to benefit the Asheville Symphony Guild Music in the Schools Program.”

You can follow the auction and/or bid on items by establishing an account with Brunk at brunkauctions.com. You do not need to bid on or purchase any item to join in on the fun. The account allows you to follow the auction action!

The Guild is also accepting donations directly to benefit Music in the Schools. Please consider sending a check to Asheville Symphony Guild, 27 College Place, Suite 100, Asheville, NC, 28801 — and remember to indicate on your check that your donation is for the Music in the Schools program.

Special thanks to Robin Harben, Sylvia Cassel, and Betty Fox for organizing this fundraiser!

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).