Governor Proclaims 70th Anniversary of the Asheville Chamber Music Series 2023

WHEREAS, the Asheville Chamber Music Series, is now celebrating the end of its 70^th anniversary season of bringing world-class chamber music to Western North Carolina and beyond; and

WHERAS, the Asheville Chamber Music Series was founded in 1952 by Joe Vandewart, a refugee from Nazi Germany, along with a small group of friends; and

WHEREAS, the Asheville Chamber Music Series continues to present some of the leading chamber ensembles from around the world along with trios, piano quartets, quintets, and larger chamber ensembles, as well as acclaimed soloists; and

WHEREAS, in keeping with its mission, the Asheville Chamber Music Series created a robust Educational Outreach Program in 2009 to reach out to the next generation, expand music education opportunities for students, and inspire a lifelong love of music; and

WHEREAS, the Asheville Chamber Music Series participated in the Bi-Annual Amadeus Festival mounted by the Asheville Symphony Orchestra by presenting world-renowned chamber groups in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and again in 2023 by presenting virtuoso banjo player Béla Fleck performing with Asheville's Opal String Quartet; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, the Asheville Chamber Music Series launched its first Rising Star Series, presented in collaboration with the Asheville Art Museum to feature promising North Carolina musicians embarking on concert careers; and

WHEREAS, the Asheville Chamber Music Series is the proud recipient of a 2022-23 North Carolina Arts Council "Spark the Arts Grant" for its work;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 14, 2023, as “70^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASHVILLE CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.