by Madison V. Fisler
July 24, 2014. This Friday, July 25, Wells Fargo presents Symphony by Chetola Lake, a Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce event.
This beautiful experience under the stars features the Symphony of the Mountains playing an outdoor concert by the shore of Chetola Lake, capped off by a spectacular fireworks display to finish off the evening. But that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Gates for the event will officially open at 5:30 p.m. with opening bands beginning at 5:45 and the Symphony starting at 7:30 p.m.
Music
The Lugo Family Players will open the concert with some marvelous string compositions. Cameron, Natalie, Jonathan and David from Jonesborough, Tenn. will perform with the Symphony of the Mountains Youth Orchestra and promise to start the evening off right.
From the Symphony of the Mountains website:
Symphony of the Mountains was formed in 1946 as the Kingsport Civic Symphony. Twenty-seven musicians attended the first rehearsal and the number grew rapidly to more than 40. The first concert was free to the public and neither the conductor nor any of the musicians were paid.
Today, Symphony of the Mountains serves the entire Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia region as well as Blowing Rock. It is a fully-professional orchestra of more than 65 musicians drawn from the Tennessee region as well as symphony orchestras in Asheville, Roanoke and beyond.
Cornelia Laemmli Orth is in her sixth season as conductor of the Symphony of the Mountains. Born and raised in Switzerland, she received master’s degrees in piano, music education and choral conducting from universities and conservatories in Zurich and Winterthur. She also holds a master’s degree in orchestra conducting from Northwestern University.
She has also conducted the North Shore Chamber Orchestra, the Northwestern University Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, appeared as a guest conductor with the Northwestern Philharmonia and served as assistant conductor of Northwestern University’s Opera Company.
Dining
There are many options for dining at the Symphony event to fit every style and every budget.
Picnic on the Lawn is offered outside Timberlake’s Restaurant at Chetola Resort, and includes salads, wraps and fruit plates for guests to enjoy.
The Pre-Symphony Buffet is held inside of the Timberlake’s Restaurant and includes seafood appetizers, cold salads, hot entrees and many different sides and desserts to choose from. Reservations are required for the Pre-Symphony Buffet. For reservations, please call 828-295-5505.
The Celebration at the Arbor is a new addition this year and features heavy hors d’oeuvres, a private cash bar, a great view of the fireworks and onsite parking. This option is $85 per person.
The Blowing Rock Market and the Cheeseburger Grille are happy to create a picnic for you and your family for the evening. Just place your order and pick it up prior to your arrival at the concert. To order, contact the Blowing Rock Market at 828-295-7373 or Cheeseburger Grille at 828-295-0211.
Guests of the Symphony are welcome to bring their own picnic to enjoy out on the lawn. Chairs and blankets are welcome, however, no grills, umbrellas or tables are permitted.
Tickets
Tickets for the Symphony by the Lake event are $32.50 for adults and $14 for children under 12. Tickets may be purchased through the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased through TicketWeb.
This year, will call tickets will not be available at Tanger Shoppes on the Parkway. Instead, will call tickets can be picked up at the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Office located at 132 Park Avenue in Blowing Rock. For more information call the Chamber at 828-295-7851.
Parking
Parking is available at the parking decks in Blowing Rock, and a shuttle is available to take guests from their parking spots to the event. Handicapped persons are encouraged to park in the Food Lion Parking Lot to wait for the shuttle.
The event will round out, as it always does, with a huge fireworks display that has been called the best in the High Country and a rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The entire event is family friendly.
For more information about this event, contact the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at 828-295-7851.
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