JULY 23, 2009 ISSUE
Symphony by the Lake in Blowing Rock Friday
The Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra returns for a second year to perform at Symphony by the Lake at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock on Friday, July 24. Photo submitted
Symphony by the Lake, the annual outdoor performance of symphonic music sponsored by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at Chetola Resort, will take place Friday, July 24. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Concertgoers are welcome to bring a picnic basket or enjoy a picnic or dinner buffet prepared by The Manor House Restaurant at Chetola. Following the music, a fireworks show sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Stanley K. Tanger will cap off the evening.
The Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra will perform for the second year at Symphony by the Lake. Led by Maestro Albert Moehring, a native of Amsterdam, the Charlotte Philharmonic is a professional 70-piece orchestra. Moehring trained at the respected Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada and pursued further studies at the Aspen School of Music in Colorado. In the past years, Moehring has worked and studied with such renowned conductors as Walter Susskind, Leonard Bernstein and Leonard Slatkin.
A new addition to this year’s Symphony by the Lake will be vocal performances by Norman Large and Christina Saffron Ashford. Both are well-known singers and actors and have been on stage with performances of many well-known musicals such as Cats, Man of La Mancha, South Pacific and others. Many will recognize Large from his roles on television shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation (as the Romulan Emperor), Seinfeld and JAG.
Another new addition to this year’s Symphony performance will be a guest conductor. The opportunity to guest conduct the Charlotte Philharmonic was auctioned at the 2009 Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival Gala. The purchasers, John Aldridge and Don Hubble, donated the guest conductor spot to 14-year-old Melinda, a client of the Grandfather Home for Children in Banner Elk. Melinda is a music lover and appreciates all genres from rap to gospel. She learned to play the clarinet in middle school and was in the choir for several years. She is also an excellent student who was on the honor roll this past year.
The chamber provides a free shuttle from the Food Lion Shopping Center in Blowing Rock to Chetola. The shuttle is handicapped accessible and drops concertgoers off at the lawn with minimal walking distance. Parking is also available at Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway.
Tickets to Symphony by the Lake are $25 for adults and $8 for kids under 12. For tickets or more information, call 828-295-7851, visit the Blowing Rock Visitor Center on Valley Boulevard or click to www.BlowingRock.com.
Want To Go?
Date: Friday, July 24
Time: 5:30 p.m. gates open/7:30 p.m. concert
Location: Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock
Cost: $25 adults/$8 kids under 12
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