Orchestra Fundraiser to Feature Barbecue, Country Music

Friends and fans of the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra can enjoy barbecue, wine and music at “Denim and Diamonds,” a fundraising event sponsored by the Charlottesville Symphony Society to be held on June 7 at 6 p.m. at Castle Hill Cider in Keswick.

Originally built in 1764, Castle Hill is a historic, privately owned plantation in Albemarle County that was once the home of Dr. Thomas Walker, who became the guardian of Thomas Jefferson after his father’s death. Today Castle Hill includes a cidery and a venue for weddings and special events.

The “Denim and Diamonds” evening will begin outdoors with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. A quartet from the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra will perform against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Craig Hartman, executive chef and owner of The Barbeque Exchange in Gordonsville, has planned a buffet dinner around the slow-cooked barbecue served at his popular restaurant. The wine sponsor for “Denim and Diamonds” will be Trump Winery.

A live auction will be followed by vintage country music and rockabilly performed by the Duke Merrick Band. The five-member band is best known for its performance at the wedding rehearsal dinner of Henry Hager and Jenna Bush, daughter of former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush.

Virginia Cenedella and Clark Hantzmon, both members of the Charlottesville Symphony Society’s board of directors, chair the “Denim and Diamonds” event.

The Charlottesville Symphony Society is an independent, nonprofit corporation that partners with the University of Virginia and the McIntire Department of Music to provide financial, administrative and marketing support to the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra. The society is committed to helping the University provide performance opportunities for students and principal players, competitive compensation and benefits for the principals and the highest quality classical music to the Charlottesville-area community.

Tickets for the “Denim and Diamonds” event are $150 and must be reserved in advance. A portion of each ticket is a tax-deductible contribution to the Charlottesville Symphony Society. For purchase information, contact Laura Dickason at the society’s office at 434-243-2513 or lcd3@virginia.edu.