Meet this striking gentleman when you visit the Scarecrow Trail at the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
Frederic CrowPin was created by our Communications Special Projects Committee and will be on display, along with many others, through October 31, 2021.
On Friday, March 12, 2021, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild President Janet Skidmore, Silver Tea Finance Chair Suzanne O’Connor, and Huntsville Youth Orchestra Liaison Ashley Wells present the Silver Tea 2020 proceeds to the Board Director of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra Deborah Brown in the amount of $23,000. Stacey Gardner was the Chairman of the Silver Tea Committee this year.
Stand and raise your paddle to join the Painted Violin Society. Along with the generous support of Jerry Damson Automotive you will be proud sponsors of the Family Concert Series. Each Painted Violin Society member will receive a commemorative Painted Violin poster and your name will be printed in the Fall and Spring Huntsville Symphony Orchestra program. This year’s violins will be up for auction starting April 10, 2021.
Click here to JOIN THE PAINTED VIOLIN SOCIETY
Click here to check out the violins and other items up for auction at this year’s Crescen-Dough Auction
Six months ago, Ashley Mitchell graciously agreed to host the HSOG Silver Tea in her beautiful home. Six months ago, 20 Guild members enthusiastically agreed to serve on the Tea Team. Six months ago, the date of the Silver Tea was determined, the caterer reserved, and all things were ready to kick off the 2020 holiday season with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Silver Tea.
But sometimes things do not happen the way they are planned.
With much discussion and consideration, it has been decided that the Silver Tea will not take place like it has in years past. We still need the support of the HSOG members and the support of the community during this unprecedented time. The Huntsville Youth Orchestra and community music education continually need our contribution. The Silver Tea gives the HYO a community presence that we want to continue and support.
Please be looking for your Silver Tea announcement to recognize the Huntsville Youth Orchestra by giving a donation and having a cup of tea in the safety of your warm and hopefully holiday decorated home.
If you would like to donate online, please click the tea cup above to be directed to the donation page.
What to do in regards to the 2020 Crescen-Dough All-Stat Auction and our current unprecedented circumstances has been weighing heavily on our minds. We feel that the best course of action is to make the 2020 auction 100% virtual and online.
Please note, that no ticket purchase is required to participate! Anyone and everyone who wants to help support the HSO can visit the auction website at www.crescendough.givesmart.com. All you need to do is register and get ready to start bidding on April 12 at 9am.
Since this will be a wholly online auction, we have decided to extend the bidding timeframe to allow for folks to peruse the items at their leisure. Bidding will be open from Sunday, April 12, at 9:00 a.m. and will close Sunday, April 19, at 5:00 p.m.
Thank you for your understanding and support!
Register soon and get ready to bid early and often!
Jamie Saunders and Ina Wilson Smith, the 2020 Crescen-Auction chairs, proudly announced the theme for next year’s auction. The All Star Auction: 47 Years of Knocking It Out of the Park will be held on April 17, 2020 at the VBC – North Hall. Please check out the auction website at https://CrescenDough.givesmart.com.
About the Auction – The Crescen-Dough Auction is a fun-filled evening of bidding, socializing, and dining organized by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild to support the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and music education. The Auction has been held annually in April since 1973. Advanced reservations are required to attend.
Invest in your community’s children – Music education is the primary focus of the Guild. In cooperation with the Symphony School and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, the Guild makes possible Third Grade Violin Education for more than 3,000 children in 40 schools; the free Young People’s Concerts for thousands of area 4th graders; the hands-on instrument “Petting Zoo” at Panoply; and the Free Family Concert.
Invest in your orchestra – 65% of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra’s working budget depends on the generosity of people like you!
The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild’s long-standing tradition continues in 2019, as Symphony Ball Chairwoman, Rosemary Latham, named her Ball advisors for the year and hosted them at an end-of-summer social on Sunday, August 18, 2019. A select group of the community’s distinguished men in positions of civic leadership are chosen annually to provide business and financial advice to the Ball Chair and support the event. To show appreciation for their service to the Guild, Rosemary and her Ball Committee hosted the men and their spouses at an Advisors’ Cocktail Party in their honor at the home of Pam and Tony Gann. Dinner food was provided by Ina Rosa of Chef on Call and included an outstanding menu including Beef Teres Major; Shrimp & Kielbasa; Bacon Wrapped Chicken bites; Deviled eggs; Brie on Crostini; Gourmet Potatoes and Bayou Caviar. The desserts were delicious fudge and lemon tarts and chocolate eclairs.
The Symphony Ball will be held on November 2ndin the Von Braun Center North hall. It will be the 56thBall held to benefit our community by supporting the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild established the Symphony Ball as a major fundraiser for the orchestra in 1964.
The 2019 Symphony Ball advisors are as follows:
Dr. Robert Beaumont Akenhead is a Radiologist with Radiology of Huntsville. He is married to Linda Casselman Akenhead. His civic interests and activities include the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, the Huntsville Museum of Art, and First United Methodist Church. His professional associations include the American College of Radiology and the American College of Physicians. Rob’s hobbies include travel, photography and reading.
Mr. John Wheeler Allen is a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley. He is married to Courtney Penney Allen. His civic interests and activities include the Huntsville Museum of Art Development Board as Finance Chair, Leadership Huntsville Connect Class 7, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees, Youth Basketball Coach, member of The Ledges, Mission Hills Country Club, and Sweetens Golf Club Golf Course Rater for Golfweek Magazine. His professional associations include the Alabama State Bar. John’s hobbies include reading, golf, travel, and anything his daughter Harper is interested in.
Dr. Kent Travis Chojnacki is manager of WASA/MSFC. Kent’s is married to Lara Isbell Chojnacki. His civic interests and activities include the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. His professional associations include the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Kent’s hobbies include cooking and wine related pursuits.
The Honorable Loyd Hinton Little, junior is a retired Circuit Judge. He is married to Margaret Pugh Little. His civic interests and activities include Vice Chair, Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Association Board of Trustees; Past President, Huntsville Rotary Club; Past President, Huntsville Madison County Bar Association; Former Member of Alabama Pattern Jury Instructions Committee; Faculty Member, Managing the Capital Case in Alabama (2008); Presiding Judge, Madison County, AL (2003-2006). His professional associations include the Alabama Bar Association, the Huntsville Madison County Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Buddy’s hobbies include golf, reading, and travel.
Mr. William R. Lunsford is a Shareholder with Maynard, Cooper, and Gale, P.C. He is married to Ingrid Beech Lunsford. Bill’s civic interests and activities include Chairman, For Life Ministries and Leadership Huntsville Connect Class 1. His professional associations include the Alabama State Bar (Leadership Forum Graduation) and Vice President, Alabama Construction Industry Section. His honors include 2018, 2019 named to “The Best Lawyers in America” and Stancil R. Starnes Award for excellence in trial advocacy. His hobbies include golf and fishing.
Mr. Lewis Cecil Price is President of Pearce Construction Company Inc. He is married to Kathryn Wiley Price. His civic interests and activities include the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra and the Huntsville Museum of Art (past Foundation Board Member). His professional associations include the Alabama Contractors Association, Business Council of Alabama, Huntsville Committee of 100, Downtown Huntsville Inc., and Executive Board Member, Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America. His hobbies include wilderness canoe camping, hunting and fishing.
Mr. Christopher S. Rodgers is Shareholder in Lanier Ford Shaver and Payne. He is married to Kimberly Porter Rodgers. Chris’s professional associations include Madison County Bar Association and Alabama Bar Association. His hobbies include hunting, fishing and Alabama football.
Mr. Robert Vandiver Rodgers is Partner with Ables, Baxter and Parker. Robert is married to Emily Chase Rodgers. His civic interests and activities include North Alabama Childcare Management and Church of the Nativity. His professional associations include the Huntsville/Madison County Bar Association. Robert’s hobbies include canoeing, reading new fiction, and history.
Mr. John Randolph Roper is owner of Randy Roper Interiors. His civic interests include serving as President of the Twickenham Historic Preservation District Association, and he is a past member of Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Board and the Foundation Board of the Huntsville Museum of Art. Randy’s honors include Path of Honor, Senior Center; Honoree at 1stAmerican Diabetes Association Roast and a recipient of the Nell Oliver Award, Huntsville Museum of Art.
Mr. David Wade Skidmore is a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser, Attorney, and farmer. David is married to Janet Waites Skidmore. He is a member of Southwood Presbyterian Church and a Board of Trustees member of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. David’s hobbies include spending time with family and faith-based philanthropy.
Master of Ceremonies: Dr. Kenneth Ray Rivenbark is owner of Rivenbark & Roper Antiques. Ken is a 20-year veteran educator who has served as a national education consultant with an emphasis on training educators in the teaching of writing and was listed in “Who’s Who Among Top Teachers“ in 1998, 2005 and 2007. In 2006, he authored “Poetry and Prose Prompts: A Quick Guide to Teaching Writing Style.” He created and hosted the cable television show “Southern Heirlooms with Ken Rivenbark” from 2014-2017. Ken is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County, Class 22. He serves as an Ambassador for Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology and a member of Downtown Huntsville, Incorporated. Ken has served on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery, the Huntsville/Madison County Library Foundation Board of Directors, and the Advisory Board of the Greater Huntsville Humane Society, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Board of Trustees and the Huntsville Museum of Art Foundation Board of Directors. Ken is a member of Church of the Nativity in Huntsville.
