Dan McGehee, second from right, greets Sandra and Monroe Trout as they arrive at Fox Den Country Club Saturday night. At right is McGehee's law clerk, Aaron Neglia. McGehee is chair of the School of Music Advisory Board.
The finale at Fox Den Country Club Saturday night was worth the price of admission all by itself. The occasion was the Springtime Serenade, a fundraiser for the UT School of Music. The evening’s theme, “Classical Meets Jazz,” was designed to showcase the talents of the faculty and students in the school. And when they all joined together for “Stranger in Paradise” at the end of the evening, the piece was a show-stopper. Absolutely exquisite.
That made me feel not quite so bad about a slight miscalculation I had made earlier in the evening. During the auction, I was just trying to run up the bid a little on a dinner for 12 cooked at the winner’s home by chef Bruce Bogartz. I unexpectedly ended up taking that little item home. Oops!
I also felt a little better when I recalled the words of Dr. Bruce Bursten, a chemist who is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at UT. Bursten drew a big round of applause when he said he often is asked how UT can afford, in these difficult financial times, to support schools like theatre and music. “How can we afford not to?” he says he always responds. “These professions nourish our souls. They make us and Knoxville and the state of Tennessee better places to be.”
Bursten described himself as “a chemist who enjoys the arts – but mostly enjoys excellence.”
In addition to the music, another highlight of the evening was an announcement that the children of Layla and Fuad Mishu, as an anniversary present to their parents, had endowed in their names a string scholorship in the School of Music. The Mishus were there and were clearly delighted.
Here are some sights from the evening:
It was a perfect evening to be on a golf course. Here's the 18th hole as seen from the balcony of Fox Den Country Club.
Here's the putting green. Pretty at 6:30 p.m.
The setting made poor Alan wistful. Still recovering from back surgery, he's not allowed to play golf right now. Perhaps next month, he's told.
The popular Boling, Brown & Holloway Trio performed during cocktails and the silent auction.
Dr. Jan Henley, left, and Susan Bolt paused for a chat during the silent auction.
At many charity events, the centerpieces are for sale. Not these. UT had them commissioned and has no intention of letting them go, I'm told.
Carolyn and Ed Boling, president emeritus of the University of Tennessee.
John Stone and Martha Lee Osborne, two of our tablemates.
Everyone says he looks like Conan O'Brien. Which gets on his nerves because he doesn't really like Conan O'Brien!
Dean Bruce Bursten, right, joins Fuad and Layla Mishu, whose children endowed a string scholarship in their names.
Mark and Cathy Hill. He's a member of the School of Music Advisory Board.
Peter Acly, vice-chair of the School of Music Advisory Board, and his wife, Ellen Robinson.
David Northington and Kevin Class performed a humorous "PDQ Bach" number that resulted in Northington falling off the piano stool. (I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of that!)
Knoxville jazz treasure Donald Brown
Vance Thompson takes a turn.
Roger L. Stephens, director of the UT School of Music, even sang a piece.
When we left the event, we stopped by Rouxbarb to give chef Bruce Bogartz the good news that we had purchased his dinner. (Not sure he thought it was such good news! Ha!)
