Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra

Ted McIrvine's review of the April 19 performance by the
Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra.

Classical Voice of North Carolina review

Rendezvous Cabaret Dinner Dance on Saturday, May 3rd to
benefit Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra

Rendezvous Cabaret, the 2008 gala dinner dance and charity auction to benefit the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, will be held on Saturday May 3rd at the Kenmure Country Club clubhouse. This is the premier fund raiser and social event of the year for the HSO and promises to be a wonderful evening for all. Guests will dance to the music of a trio, Top Hat, during an evening event presented in a Parisian Cabaret theme. This year’s gala decoration scheme is a collaborative effort of the HSO Rendezvous Board and members of some of Hendersonville’s local arts organizations.

Among the volunteers and organizations involved are Tom Asbury, Sue Fertik and Al Jones from the Hendersonville Little Theatre, and Francis Cullinan, Brian Glaze and Patricia James from the Arts Council of Henderson County. There will also be real time painting in a French artists’ alley by teen artists from the Boys and Girls Club of Henderson County. Gala goers will have the opportunity to buy the teens’ art and also children’s art from the Council’s Academy of the Arts led by director Kim Adams. Props and other materials will be supplied by the Flat Rock Playhouse to create a Parisian Left Bank artists’ area. “The arts help build our community and the community helps to build the arts,” said Lochie Overbey, the president of the Arts Council. “There is no finer reflection of this sentiment than the show of support and involvement of the Little Theatre, the Arts Council, and the Boys and Girls Club in the HSO’s Rendezvous gala.”

Guests will enjoy perusing dozens of attractive items and gift certificates for goods and services in a silent auction. A live auction will be directed by Richard Hatch of Richard D. Hatch & Associates. Among the live auction offerings will be two 6-day/5-night Hawaiian Getaways, one at Marriott’s Ko’Olina Beach Club, Oahu, Hawaii and the other at Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club, Kauai, Hawaii, either of which can be scheduled anytime within 15 months of the auction. A 5-day/4-night Marriott Arizona Desert Getaway at Canyon Villas, Phoenix, Arizona will be one of the items offered in the silent auction. Rounding out the evening’s entertainment will be cabaret songs performed by a local chanteuse, a little Can-Can dancing, and the occasional spontaneous performance of a mime or two.

The festivities begin at 6:00 pm and the ticket price is $100 per person for the evening’s entertainment, with net proceeds going to benefit the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and its Youth Orchestra. Invitations will be mailed to past orchestra supporters in late March. You may request additional invitations by calling George Alexsovich at 696-2343. Program listing of attendees will be assured if replies are received by April 19; reservations may still be made somewhat later.

“Please join us for an evening at the Cabaret. Enjoy a delicious meal, dance to beautiful music, bid on wonderful auction treasures, and support a magnificent cause ... the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra!” said the HSO Rendezvous Board President, Donna Hastie.

Press Release

Young Artist Competition Winners Awarded

The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 Young Artist Competition, held on January 27 at the Patton Auditorium of BRCC. The first place winner, Josianne Bailey, will receive a $500 cash award and play with the Hendersonville Symphony at its April 19th concert. Second place and a $300 award went to Elizabeth Gergel, and third place and $200 went to Eric Weigel. The Competition is made possible by our sponsor, SunTrust Bank.

Josianne Bailey, age 17 and a native of Fletcher, NC, has played flute since the age of nine. She studies currently with Pam Caldemeyer. She plays with the Asheville City/Buncombe County Schools Youth Orchestra as principal flutist. She has recently placed first, second and third in solo auditions, including one at Furman University. Her gospel bluegrass band has recorded both CDs and DVDs. She also studies harp with Jacquelyn Bartlett and piano with Ruth Nussbaum-Borden. She is a senior at Bailey Prep School and takes classes at Blue Ridge Community College.

Elizabeth Gergel, age 15, began playing cello at five years of age. She has studied with Francis Duff of Asheville and currently studies with Dr. Christopher Hutton at Furman University. Elizabeth was twice selected as a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas Youth Orchestra. In 2004, 2006 and 2007 she won second place at the Music Academy of NC Cello Competition in Greensboro. She is co-principal cello of the Carolina Youth Symphony in Greenville, SC.

Eric Weigel, age 17, began his musical studies at age five on the violin. At twelve he began piano studies and has been under the instruction of Dr. John Cobb for the past five years. In 2006, Eric made his orchestral debut playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto #21 with the Asheville Chamber Orchestra. In 2007, he placed first in the advanced division of the Asheville Area Piano Forum’s annual competition. Eric is currently a junior at Asheville School.


Josianne Bailey	Elizabeth Gergel	Eric Weigel

Exciting Year in Store for the Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra

The Hendersonville Symphony Youth Orchestra (HSYO) is searching for a new director/conductor for the upcoming '07-'08 season. The June departure to Greensboro of Donald Walter, the 12-year leader of HSYO set in motion a process that will culminate in late September.

A Search Committee made up of HSYO parents and members of the Education Committee of the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra (HSO) has been working through the summer and will select final candidates who will in turn lead the orchestra during a rehearsal in September. Evaluations will be collected from students and parents in addition to the committee members, making this selection process quite comprehensive.

Membership in HSYO is open to any student grades 8 and higher, up to age 21. There is no fee to participate in HSYO and no residency requirement. Young musicians from Henderson, Buncombe, Transylvania and Polk counties have been recent participants in this group which offers a full symphonic experience. The orchestra is sponsored by the HSO, and last season enjoyed a generous grant from Wachovia Bank. HSYO rehearses weekly on Monday evenings. Four concerts are presented each season in various venues including the Bo Thomas Auditorium and the Champion Hills Clubhouse.

Auditions for the new season of HSYO will be held on Monday, September 10, 6pm in the band room of East Henderson High School, located at 130 Upward Road in East Flat Rock.

The instruments that are used in the HSYO include flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, violin, viola, cello and bass. HSYO has a particular need at this time for oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn players. For more information on auditions or membership is HSYO, please call the HSO office at 697-5884 or 890-4722.

The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra Receives a
National Endowment for the Arts Challenge Grant

The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce that it has received a $10,000 Challenge America Reaching Every Community Fast-track Grant from the National Endowment for the arts in support of our March 11, 2007 performance of the Brahms German Requiem. Quoting from a national press release dated Friday, March 2, 2007.

The National Endowment for the Arts announces grant awards totaling $1,360,000 through the Challenge America Reaching Every Community Fast-track grant program. Bringing the arts to all Americans is a significant part of the NEA's mission and this program is integral to that effort. NEA Deputy Chairman for Grants and awards Tony Chauveaux said, "Providing broad access to the arts is key to the NEA's work."

The NEA recognizes and honors excellence on a national level. The HSO is among only three organizations chosen in the state of North Carolina to receive this award. It honors not only our organization, but our community as a whole. Such recognition puts us into very rarified company, indeed.

Bravo HSO!
Bravo Hendersonville!