Remarkable weather. Elimination of the live auction. Fantastic attendance. All these combined to make this year’s Symphony in the Park one of the best in the progam’s 25-year history. As a result, Development Officer Mary Thom Adams says about $50,000 was raised last Sunday evening to support Ijams Nature Center and its programs.
In addition to being the 25th Symphony in the Park, the event also celebrated the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s 75th anniversary and Ijams Nature Center’s 100th, all wonderful milestones in our community’s cultural history.
Adams says Ijams is making a concerted effort to “upcycle” items for its silent auction, thereby eliminating the need to have a live auction. By that, she means finding unique items at the nature center itself or things created by staff members or other supporters to offer to bidders. One example: a bench that came from the original Ijams building was painted with an Alice In Wonderland theme and auctioned as a child’s table. Young Frank Reynolds, an incredibly good sport, dressed up like a mushroom to promote that item! Adams says this form of recycling really reflects what Ijams is all about. Those of us who attend these kinds of events were just happy to avoid what can sometimes seem like an interminable live auction.
Another thing these folks did right, in my opinion and that of my friends: for white wine they offered some options (sauvignon blanc and pinot grigio) in addition to the ubiquitous chardonnay. The New York Times several years ago declared chardonnay to be officially out of fashion as party-goers there switched to “ABC: Anything But Chardonnay.” But that information seems not to have made it yet to many party planners in K-Town.
I hate to go on and on about how great this event was, but here’s something else we loved. The silent auction was set up with plenty of space to move around and socialize. Sometimes these things are crammed into space that’s too small to allow easy movement and bidders can’t really get to and see the items being offered. I imagine it really helps get the bidding up if you can allow bidders to take a close look.
This was a really nice event. The beauty of the night was matched by the performances. And the fact of its ending at 8:30 on a Sunday night was a real plus. Thanks!
Great event–and home in time for Mad Men!
We love Symphony in the Park and have bought a table in the past. We hated to miss it this year. It is one of the best “done” non-profit events in town. And I hope every non-profit that holds a charity heeds your advice about the wine. No more cheap Chardonney!!
GREAT review. Agree wholeheartedly. This was the BEST Ijams Symphony in the Park in 25 years! Seems like staff and board have the format well in place. Look forward to next year. Perhaps our new “Governor” will be the guest artist?
Ellen: Great idea. Don’t know what his musical talent is, though!
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