Tag Archives: Bill Riley

“Evening by the Tracks” enchants with menu and music

The tickets were pricey ($500 each), but it would have been hard to beat the food and music anywhere in Knoxville last Sunday. Called “Evening by the Tracks,” the benefit for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra was held at the future … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 2 Comments

Blackberry Farm event was marvelous. Mostly.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra’s annual fundraising dinner at Blackberry Farm was a sellout this year as folks seemed to crave getting out and about after being fully vaccinated — a requirement to attend the event. (Thank you, Knoxville Symphony!) Even … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 6 Comments

Remember eating, drinking and dancing together?

Greetings! Hope everyone is holding up during these stressful times of social distancing. I decided to haul out a not-so-long-ago memory of the Symphony Ball when we all gathered to eat, drink and even dance together. It makes me smile … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Knoxville, Music | 10 Comments

Melding of music and nature nets perfect Sunday

Among the top five best events in Knoxville every year is Symphony in the Park. Held this past Sunday at Ijams Nature Center, it features a performance by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in the beautiful setting that is Ijams. Funds … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Knoxville, Music | 14 Comments

Dining on pinto beans at Blackberry Farm. No kidding.

Blackberry Farm, of course, is the elegantly rustic Relais & Chateaux property located on 4,200 acres in Walland adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A 45-minute drive from downtown Knoxville, it features gourmet dining as well as rooms … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 6 Comments

Next KSO season: Beethoven, romance and surprises

The folks from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra held a little reception downtown earlier this week to unveil some of the highlights from the upcoming 2019-2020 season. Let me urge you to get your tickets as soon as possible, because it’s … Continue reading

Filed under: Downtown, Knoxville, Music | 4 Comments

Knoxville Symphony Board: many reasons to celebrate

In addition to the holiday season, the Knoxville Symphony Society’s board of directors had much to celebrate last night when members gathered at the Historic Middlebrook mansion for a little conviviality. Hosts Rick Fox, a KSO board member, and Ralph … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Historic preservation, Knoxville, Music | 10 Comments

Cash makes ‘Candide’ climb

Several years ago when our client Pilot Flying J got into the racing business by sponsoring a professional NASCAR driver, company CEO Jimmy Haslam told me, “Money equals speed, Mox.” What he meant was that the more money you put … Continue reading

Filed under: Knoxville, Theater | 8 Comments

KSO spreads its wings at Cirrus Aircraft hangar

Over the next few years, expect to see the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra playing unusual music in unlikely places as part of its new “KSO UnStaged” series of performances. This year brought the core musicians to a brewery for “KSO UnStaged: … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Music | 13 Comments

Mozart in the mountains

Seventy-five Knoxville Symphony supporters gathered Sunday at Blackberry Farm for what I think is one of the best opportunities of the fundraising year. You get to have dinner at our area’s premier dining establishment AND hear an intimate 30-minute performance … Continue reading

Filed under: Events, Food, Music | 8 Comments