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Wells Fargo Presents: Symphony by Chetola Lake, A Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Event Tonight

by Madison V. Fisler

July 26, 2013. On Friday, July 26, 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. 

Tickets for the show are $30 for adults and $12 for children under 12. Tickets are available at Chetola Resort, the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce or online here.

The gates for the event will officially open at 5:30 p.m. for guests to come and find their place on the lawn to have their picnic and watch the much-anticipated annual show. For 26 years, the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce has put on this spectacular display for the community, and  following up last year’s Silver Anniversary event, the show will have even more to offer visitors. 

New this year will be a Scottish/Celtic area in the field beside the lake where Appalachian heritage vendors will be available for guests, as well as fly casting demonstrations and even a border collie sheep and duck herding demonstration by Bill Corbern. 

“The entire event is built around the Celtic and Scottish roots of the area,” said Billie Rogers, events director of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. 

The Mountain Laurels will be the opening performance of the event, followed by the Grandfather Mountain Highlands Pipe Band, made possible by an anonymous donation, who will have a 45-minute set. At 7:30 p.m. the Symphony will begin with the Symphony of the Mountains out of Kingsport, Tenn., led by conductor Cornelia Orth. 

“The conductor is outstanding!” Rogers said. “Only ten percent of the worlds conductors are female and she is amazing.”

The program will showcase many of the pop symphony type music but will also include pieces such as Danny Boy, Lord of the Dance selections,  and as a special treat the second to last song will be a bagpipe soloist with the 60-piece orchestra behind him playing Amazing Grace. 

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. 

“It’s the best part of the summer with the  best entertainment and the most glorious views,” Rogers said. 

“For a $30 ticket you can’t have a better summer afternoon.”