Guild News through the year, by date

As May begins, we are still at home, apart but together, working to keep everyone healthy and safe. The Guild sends its warmest regards to you and your families. I, for one, am smiling behind my mask!

The Guild and the Symphony are hard at work to keep the wheels turning as well as possible. The Guild held our first Zoom Board meeting in early April and will meet again in May. Several committees have continued to meet via Zoom. Hooray, communication technology!

Next week, we will begin our Membership renewal campaign. We want to show the utmost respect for everyone who is looking at financial losses. At the same time, we do know that the best way to support the symphony and the Guild is by continuing to contribute and be a part of the recovery. There is a way out of this!

Reluctantly, the Musical Feast committee has cancelled the last Feast for the year. We are so appreciative that, from Feast to Feast, approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of ticket purchases have been donated back to the Guild. Many thanks to all! The committee continues to plan next season’s Feasts, despite the continuing uncertainty of the times.

The Nominating Committee is also meeting to recommend people for next year’s officer positions. We are able to hold a virtual election, so please stay tuned for further information.

Meanwhile, the Asheville Symphony has created a very moving video and audio montage of our Asheville, featuring musicians you’re sure to recognize. Please enjoy!

New, virtual “events” are in the planning stages — and we will pass information along as they become available.

Until next time, take care and stay safe!

Dear Symphony Guild Members,

With your health and safety as our top priority, the Symphony and the Symphony Guild are working to do our part to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. To that end, the following events are cancelled:

• The Guild program scheduled for March 19
• The Symphony rehearsal opportunity scheduled for March 19
• Symphony Talk at the Reuter Center scheduled for March 20
• The Symphony concert scheduled for March 21
• “A Night at Woodstock” scheduled for April 4

In addition, the seven Musical Feasts scheduled for late March to early May have been cancelled. People who have purchased tickets to these Feasts will be notified directly. We will continue to monitor the situation and make a decision regarding the remaining Feast scheduled for June 6.

We will continue to keep you informed on events as the Symphony season progresses.

Do stay well as we all keep washing our hands, not touching our faces, and keeping away from large crowds!

Save the date for a Flower Power Evening of Music & Fashion, the 7th annual Symphonettes Spring Fashion Show, held at Celine & Co. on Broadway, Friday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $40 per person to benefit Asheville Symphony Orchestra. To pay with your credit card, go to AVLSymphonettes.eventbrite.com. If you prefer to pay by check, make your check payable to Asheville Symphonettes and mail to Jenny Pritchard, 19 Park Road, Asheville, NC 28803.

Any questions? Call Jenny at 828-606-2866 or email scottandjenny@bellsouth.net.

---

March Guild Program

Join certified music practitioner Robin Gaiser for a refreshing and rejuvenating session of musical discovery, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 19.

Listen, relax and learn how to use music for self-care, as well as for the care of others. Robin will employ her vocal and instrumental gifts, along with her knowledge about how music affects the human body and soul, in this interactive presentation at the Asheville Symphony offices, 27 College Place.

For more than 16 years, Robin Gaiser has offered live acoustic bedside music to the critically and chronically ill in hospitals, hospices, rehabs, nursing homes and in private homes.

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.