Foreword from the President of the Asheville Symphony Board of Directors

Foreword

Great Music, Great Memories is an apt title for this

book which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Asheville Symphony. It helps us remember that music is first and foremost what we’re all about. Thanks to the orchestra and its talented musicians, we are proud to bring live symphonic music to our community.

An equally apt title might have been “Great People Make a Great Symphony.” This book describes the energetic, committed, tireless and talented people who created, sustained and continue to enrich the Symphony, not only over the 50 years since the first subscription season but also stretching back to 1927. We can rightly claim to be one of North Carolina’s oldest orchestras.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend my thanks to some of those “Great People” who made this book possible:

J.K. MacKendrie (Mack) Day’s thought-provoking essay entitled “A Love Song—Its Role: Is It Worth The Effort” presented before the Pen and Plate Club on July 21, 1983, was the inspirational starting point for Arnold’s Wengrow’s research on this book. The Archives Team —Chloe Atkins, Beverly Briedis, Carole Roskind and Fran Sandfort—must be recognized for its outstanding work over the past one-and-a-half-years with the Symphony’s irreplaceable archival collections. These documents provided the exact historical materials necessary to produce this commemorative book and its companion DVD. Madelyn Bennett Edwards and Otis Philbrick are also to be saluted for co-producing the outstanding Anniversary DVD, enclosed herein, which distills the essence of the Symphony’s story, set to the music of our excellent orchestra.

My special thanks to my trusted teammate, Carole Roskind, for working side-by-side with me as we planned and developed on-going events celebrating our Golden Anniversary.

Finally, our thanks to Arnold Wengrow, who coordinated the research in addition to writing Great Music, Great Memories. He encouraged us to see the 50 years of the Asheville Symphony within the substantial musical and artistic history of our city and our region.

Carolyn L. Hubbard

President, Asheville Symphony Board of Directors