The North Carolina Symphony (NCS) will create an elegant black-tie evening, unlike anything that has been experienced on downtown Fayetteville Street in Raleigh, at its 2017 fundraising gala on Saturday, October 7. City Plaza will be transformed with sparkling chandeliers seeming to hang from the sky under a translucent canopy, andarts lovers in North Carolina will come together at beautifully adorned tables to enjoy a delicious dinner envisioned by celebrity chef Vivian Howard.
A James Beard award-winner, Vivian Howard is co-owner of the much-raved-about Chef and the Farmer restaurant in Kinston, North Carolina. She is the star of PBS’s Emmy Award-winning A Chef’s Life, which will debut its fifth season just days before the Gala. Chef Howard is also the author of the acclaimed new book Deep Run Roots, exploring the influence of her North Carolina heritage on her cooking.
Noted Raleigh chefs Dean Ogan of Rocky Top Hospitality and Jason Smith of 18 Seaboardwill collaborate with Chef Howard to plan and execute the farm-to-table menu. To accommodate this unique culinary experience, an outdoor kitchen will be custom-built on Fayetteville Street, in coordination with the City of Raleigh. The evening will begin with an elegant cocktail reception at Jimmy V’s Osteria & Bar.
The 2017 fundraising gala provides an opportunity to experience Chef Howard’s renowned cuisine right in the Triangle, while supporting NCS in its mission to bring the highest quality orchestral performances and music education to the entire state. Traveling 18,000 miles throughout North Carolina and engaging 250,000 residents each year, including 55,000 students, no other orchestra in the country serves its state to the extent that NCS does. The biannual gala—together with ongoing support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and the State of North Carolina—is a crucial source of funding to help to make this possible.
NCS Trustee Patty Briguglio, President of PFB Connect, and Rebecca Quinn-Wolf, Vice President and Director of Client & Community Relations for PNC's Eastern Carolinas market, serve as co-chairs of the 2017 Gala Committee. Nancy McFarlane, mayor of Raleigh, is the chair.
PNC Bank is the evening’s Presenting Sponsor. “The North Carolina Symphony is a true gem of our state,” says Jim Hansen, PNC Regional President of Eastern Carolinas. “From its cultural contributions to its mission of educating students, the Symphony’s impact on our quality of life is true and ongoing. We are looking forward to a special night.”
NCS gratefully acknowledges Presenting Sponsor PNC Bank; Chef Sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina; Specialty Sponsors First Citizens Bank, PFB Connect / Patty Briguglio, RGA Investments, and Towne Insurance; and Table Sponsors Catharine Arrowood, Mr. and Mrs. James F. Boericke, Mr. Don K. Davis and Ms. Peggy L. Wilks, Deloitte, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Marsha Ferree and Michael Gering, Dr. Mary Susan K. Fulghum, Robert Graham and Cheryl Peterson, Dr. Bennett A. and Elaine Bryant Hayes, Highwoods Properties, Mark and Linda Leithe, The News & Observer, Parker Poe,Professor James L. and Mrs. Florence Peacock, Mrs. Frances P. Rollins, Mr. David Sontag, Ms. Sandra L. Sully, UNC REX Healthcare, WakeMed, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward O. Woolner; Catering Partners Rocky Top Hospitality, 18 Restaurant Group, Chef & the Farmer, and Queen of Wines; and Trade Partner Jerry’s Printing Service for their support of this event.
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available, including table sponsorships at $5,000. Individual gala tickets are $500. To learn more, visit ncsymphony.org/gala.
North Carolina Symphony
2017 Fundraising Gala
Saturday, October 7
Cocktail Reception at 6:00 pm, Jimmy V’s Osteria & Bar
Dinner at 7:00 pm, City Plaza, Fayetteville St.
Raleigh, NC
TICKETS are $500. To make reservations for this exclusive event, visit ncsymphony.org/gala or call919.789.5479.
About the North Carolina Symphony
Founded in 1932, the North Carolina Symphony (NCS) is a vital and honored component of North Carolina's cultural life. Its 175 concerts and events annually are greeted with enthusiasm by adults and schoolchildren in more than 90 North Carolina counties—in communities large and small, and in concert halls, auditoriums, gymnasiums, restaurants, clubs, and outdoor settings. The Symphony’s 66 full-time professional musicians perform under the artistic leadership of Music Director Grant Llewellyn.
NCS’s state headquarters venue is the spectacular Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. The Symphony’s service across the state includes series in Chapel Hill, Fayetteville, New Bern, Southern Pines, and Wilmington, as well as the Summerfest series at its summer home, the outdoor Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary. Collaborating with performers that range from classical artists, to banjo players, to jazz bands, NCS brings some of the world’s greatest talents to North Carolina.Committed to engaging students of all ages across North Carolina, NCS leads the most extensive education program of any U.S. orchestra. In alignment with the curriculum set by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the Symphony provides training and resources for teachers, sends small ensembles into classrooms, and presents full-orchestra Education Concerts experienced by more than 55,000 4th and 5th graders each year. Music Discoveryfor preschoolers combines music with storytelling, and at the middle and high school levels, students have opportunities to work directly with NCS artists and perform for NCS audiences.
NCS is dedicated to giving voice to new art, and has presented 47 U.S. or world premieres in its history.In March 2017, NCS appeared at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as one of four orchestras chosen for the inaugural year ofSHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras—an honor that recognized the Symphony’s innovative community partnerships and creative programming.
The first state-supported symphony in the country, NCS performs under the auspices of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. To learn more, visit ncsymphony.org.
About PNC
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; and wealth management and asset management. To learn more, visit pnc.com.
