BRO’s 3rd Annual “Summer Soirée”
Dr. Emily Mariko Eng, Music Director
BRO’s 3rd Annual Summer Soirée
Kathy Kmonicek captured the images below.
(ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE)
Summer Soirée
Join us for a Summer Soirée on Friday, June 12th, 2026, at the Souther Williams Vineyard.
This unique experience will take place at the enchanting Souther Williams Vineyard in Western North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Orchestra blends its musical passion with fine wines for the third year in a row. Guests will enjoy a veritable feast of music, food, and wine in this setting, both intimate and spectacular.
Summer Soirée is a fundraiser to help pay for the Blue Ridge Orchestra’s continued performances at varied venues while our concert hall home, Lipinsky Auditorium, is under its exciting renovation. Thank you for your support. You keep us thriving.
Details: Blue Ridge Orchestra’s Summer Soirée
Friday, June 12th, 6 PM
Souther Williams Vineyard
655 Hoopers Creek Road.
Fletcher, NC. 28732
Dinner, Wine, and Music, 6:00 p.m: $100 per patron, for immediate purchase online. Tickets are almost sold out!Lawn Seating and Music, 7:30 pm: $20 per patron, for purchase online and upon entry. Admissions between 7:00 pm and 7:30 pm All concertgoers must be 21 years of age or older to enter the vineyard. No outside alcohol is permitted. Wine, beer, and other beverages can be purchased by the bottle or glass. This event will be held rain or shine!
Info: https://blueridgeorchestra.org/summer-soiree-june12, Facebook, Instagram, or call 828-782-3354.
PC: Kathy Kmonicek
ARTFUL STRINGS
SILENT AUCTION
Friday, June 12th @ Summer Soirée!
(ORIGINAL NEWSLETTER)
The Blue Ridge Orchestra is proud to introduce ARTFUL STRINGS at our third annual Soiree in the breathtaking vineyard of Souther Williams on June 12th!
During the evening’s event, we will hold a silent auction for the very first in the series of … Artful Strings.
What you already know is that Summer Soiree features the BRO’s incredibly talented musicians. What you may not know is the breadth and scope of their talents, which you will soon discover!
What is Artful Strings? A former BRO violinist and accomplished luthier, Kate Rickenbacker of Rickenbacker Violins, made us an offer we could not refuse! She possessed several string instruments ready for retirement as musical vessels. However, she had this idea that they could still provide delight as Objets d’art and would donate these instruments to us if we chose to accept her offer! BRO violist and board member, Rhona Reagen, ran with that idea. She approached BRO musicians to see who might have that artistic bent and be willing to donate their talent to our most pressing cause…the need to raise funds needed to perform in new venues as we await the completion of renovations at our home in Lipinsky Auditorium on UNC Asheville’s campus.
At Summer Soiree in the vineyard, we introduce to you a violin turned into art - pictured here - by BRO violist and UNC Asheville student, Brynn McKay.
Pictures cannot possibly do this beautiful Objet justice – it is even backlit! We highly recommend that you see for yourself and enter the auction by attending this year’s Summer Soiree! While the Gold Level dining tickets are sold out, there are plenty of lawn seating tickets available where you can enjoy the BRO’s summer music program and still purchase the delicious Souther Williams wines… and just maybe take home a beautiful piece of art destined to be a treasured part of your home and memory of this special evening.
I look forward to seeing you soon!
Deb Kenney, President