By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Few finales rival the playing of John Philip Souza’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” when accompanied by fireworks over the tranquil, still waters of Chetola Lake. It again proved a highlight of “Symphony by the Lake,” hosted by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce at Chetola Mountain Resort — but was preceded by music ranging from plaintive to playful to spirited and, really, nothing short of grand.
The theme for this 37th edition of Symphony by the Lake was “Celtic Celebration,” presented as it has been for well over a decade by Symphony of the Mountains, based in Kingsport, Tenn., under the direction of Cornelia Laemmli Orth. To add even more weight to the Irish and Scottish music influenced by the broader Celtic culture, Symphony of the Mountains brought along some featured guests, including Bristol Lightning with Dave Eggar (violincello), Phil Faconti (guitar) and Antony Blake Collins (mandolin).
Special guests included Pat Mangan (Irish fiddle), Kirsten Agresta Copley (harp) and Conor Coleman (bodhran and Irish percussion).
This year’s sponsors included The Kennedy-Herterich Foundation, Hendrick Luxury Group, Chetola Mountain Resort, The Village Foundation, Party Reflections, 100 West Union, Monkee’s, Blowing Rock Furniture Gallery, Our State magazine and WNC magazine.
Tent hosts included 100 West Union, Il Dolce far Niente, A Few Good Friends, Jay Biles & Friends, Abernathy Jeep Chevrolet, Karyn and Dieter Herterich, Allen Tate Realtors, Letty and Keith Stoneman, Artus, Meadowbrook Inn, Balfour Beatty, Monkee’s, Barker & Greene Team, Mountain Fun Friends, BDSINC.com, North Meets South, Beech Mountain Club, On the Rock, Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Chetola Mountain Resort, Porch Pals, Brooks & Van Essen, SE Retirement Planners, Cairn O’Mohr, Simonini Homes, Storied Real Estate, Emergency Restoration Xperts (ERX), Strategic Business Solutions, Ferns and Friends, Tannin Capital, Foscoe Companies (Echota), The Blowing Rock, Friends of the Rice’s, The Harris Party, Funky Tulip – White Pine Storage, The Jonas Law Firm, Golden Ridge Financial Designs, The Speckled Trout, HAMMER, Visions of Vienna and Highland Fling.
