I continue to be impressed by the unique ways in which communities have chosen to show their support of this great orchestra. One of these special communities is a group of artists at the Hillsborough Gallery of Art in beautiful, downtown Hillsborough. I am very excited about our upcoming fundraiser partnership, and so I asked Mirinda Kossoff (gallery artist and wife of the Symphony’s assistant principal bassoonist) to share with us why the Symphony, why now.

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Thursday, February 25th from 6-9 p.m., there’s a party in Hillsborough. It’s a party with a purpose, but a party nevertheless, with a spread of fine food and wine, live classical music, and art to feast your eyes upon. Just come to the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, on Hillsborough’s Churton Street, to meet, eat, mingle and enjoy the art of established local artists who own and operate the gallery. You’ll find works in many different media: oil and acrylic painting, watercolor, collage, encaustic, photography, metal sculpture, terra cotta pottery, fiber arts, copper sculpture, enamels, jewelry and blown glass. The price for all this is only $10, which goes to the Symphony, and the gallery also will donate 10% of its proceeds that night to the Symphony.

How did our art gallery get connected to the North Carolina Symphony? Last fall, we artist-owners began talking about hosting a fundraiser at the gallery as a way of doing good while introducing ourselves to new people. It seemed like a worthwhile but challenging endeavor, and we wanted to think carefully about which organization to support.

At more than one of our monthly business meetings, we kicked around ideas. Various members put forth their favorite nonprofits, but when someone mentioned the Symphony, it was an “aha” moment – at least for me. Others were soon convinced that it was a great fit – artists supporting artists. And we had a personal connection. I’m married to that short, dark and handsome Italian bassoon player, Vic Benedict. I ran the idea by Vic, and he warmed to it right away. At our next business meeting, we put it to a vote and the group of 18 was on board. (Now, we have 20 members). After we made the commitment to host a benefit for the Symphony and met with the Symphony to work out details, the gallery made another commitment - to expand our footprint and get much-needed store-front space. In November of 2009, we officially opened our expanded and renovated space: airy, light-filled and with more exhibit area for both two- and three-dimensional art. The theme for our party is “Music to My Eyes,” which seemed to us like the perfect blend of the visual and performing arts. Those who come to our benefit night will get a preview of our monthly featured artist show, which always happens on the last Friday of each month. We are excited to be partnering with the North Carolina Symphony in this way and hope that you will come and enjoy the evening created for the benefit of great art on February 25!

Mirinda Kossoff
Gallery member, jeweler and collage artist
Wife of North Carolina Symphony musician, Vic Benedict