Asheville, NC (June 7, 2018) – Asheville Symphony Board of Directors President Doris Phillips Loomis and Executive Director David Whitehill are pleased to announce that conductor Darko Butorac will become the organization’s next music director beginning with the 2018-2019 Masterworks Season, which opens in September.

Butorac (pronounced BOO-toh-rutz) currently serves as the music director of the Tallahassee and Missoula symphony orchestras. He succeeds Daniel Meyer, who served as music director of the Asheville Symphony from 2004 to 2017.

“This is an exciting time for the Asheville Symphony,” said board president Doris Phillips Loomis. “Darko Butorac is a talented and passionate conductor as evidenced by his wonderful audition concert last November. The symphony board is eager to see what his leadership of the Asheville Symphony will bring to our community.”

As the new music director, Butorac will conduct the majority of the symphony’s 2018-2019 Masterworks Season concerts, beginning with the season premiere on September 15.

Butorac is an established conductor in demand with orchestras both in Europe and the Americas. He has appeared at prestigious venues such as the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Gran Teatro Nacional of Lima, Belgrade’s Kolarac Hall, Teatro Magnani in Italy, as well as at the Tartu, Aspen and Brevard summer music festivals. He has collaborated with soloists such as soprano Renee Fleming, cellist Colin Carr, violinist Lara St. John, and Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected as the next Asheville Symphony music director,” said Butorac. “I felt the orchestra and I had a very special connection during my audition week in Asheville and I am excited about getting to know the orchestra members better. In the season ahead we will be working together on some incredible repertoire including Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, Rachmaninoff Concertos with famed pianist Garrick Ohlsson, and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. I very much look forward to getting to know the vibrant Asheville community, and to exploring its beautiful surroundings.”

Butorac will be the first Asheville Symphony music director to occupy the newly established UBS Financial Services Music Director Chair.

“The appointment of a new music director for the Asheville Symphony is an important moment for our community,” said Jerry Hornowski, UBS Financial Services Asheville branch manager. “Darko Butorac will not only be the leader of the orchestra, but also a musical leader in the greater Asheville community. We are pleased to sponsor the music director chair and look forward to the wonderful music Mr. Butorac will create with the Asheville Symphony.”

Selection of the new music director followed an intensive worldwide search. After receiving more than 400 applicants, the Music Director Search Committee, which included orchestra musicians, board members, and staff, narrowed the field to six finalists, each of whom visited Asheville and conducted an audition concert with the Asheville Symphony during the 2017-2018 season.

“Finding a music director to lead this organization into its bright future was no small task,” said Jack Anderson, search committee chairman and symphony board member. “After interviewing and meeting the finalists and receiving input and feedback from all corners of the Asheville Symphony community, we feel confident that Darko Butorac is the right person to take our orchestra to new heights.”

Butorac was the 2004 Grand Prix laureate of the Fourth Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition, an honor that led to engagements with orchestras across four continents. He has also appeared at the Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview hosted by the League of American Orchestras and the Jacksonville Symphony.

He is an avid traveler and is passionate about discovering the world and bringing people together through the beauty of music.

“Our symphony has been in an incredible phase of growth with an expanded youth orchestra program, the first two Asheville Amadeus festivals, and two studio recordings,” said executive director David Whitehill. “With Darko Butorac at the helm, we’re poised to build on that growth in the coming years and further expand this unique organization’s horizons.”

The Asheville Symphony Orchestra performs and promotes symphonic music for the benefit, enjoyment and education of the people of Western North Carolina. The ASO presents concerts in the 2,300-seat Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center. Related organizations include the Asheville Symphony Guild, Asheville Symphony Chorus, Asheville Symphonettes, and education initiatives such as the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra, Music in the Schools, Spotlight on Young Musicians, Symphony Talks, and pre-concert lectures.

Brandi Carlile will be the featured guest on tomorrow morning’s “The Howard Stern Show” (listen live at 9:00am ET via Sirius/XM’s Howard 100).

The visit comes in advance of Carlile’s three shows at New York’s Beacon Theater this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Additional upcoming tour dates include May 4-5 at Boston’s Orpheum Theatre (both sold out), June 15 at Chicago’s Chicago Theatre (sold out), August 12 at Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (sold out) and August 17 at L.A.’s Greek Theatre. See below for complete details.

The extensive headline tour celebrates Carlile’s new album, By The Way, I Forgive You, which recently debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart, Rock Albums chart and Americana/Folk Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart—a career high for the acclaimed singer, songwriter and performer. Released on Low Country Sound/Elektra Records (purchase), the album was produced by Grammy-Award winning producer Dave Cobb and acclaimed musician Shooter Jennings and features the breakout first single, “The Joke,” which is currently in its eleventh week in the top ten at Triple A Radio. Watch the song’s official music video as well as recent live performances on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

“…an anthem for the belittled and bullied…evokes the grand crescendos of ‘A Day in the Life’ and the finale of ‘Abbey Road’…”—The New York Times

“…quickly chiseled itself a spot at the top of the best vocal performances of the year, and provided one of the most poignant lyrical moments too.”—Rolling Stone

Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, By The Way, I Forgive You includes ten new songs written by Carlile and longtime collaborators and bandmates Tim and Phil Hanseroth. Of their close relationship, Brandi comments, “The Twins and I have been in a band for so long now. And not just a band, we are literally a family. When you create art with twins, it becomes unclear when I end and where they begin.” In addition to Carlile (vocals, guitar, piano), Tim Hanseroth (vocals, bass), Phil Hanseroth (vocals, guitar), Cobb (guitar, percussion) and Jennings (piano, organ), the album features Chris Powell (drums), Josh Neumann (cello), John Mark Painter (French horn) as well as string arrangements and conducting by the late Paul Buckmaster (Elton John, The Rolling Stones).

Over the course of their acclaimed career, the band has released six albums, including 2015’s The Firewatcher’s Daughter, which garnered a Grammy nomination for “Best Americana Album.” Additionally, last year, they released Cover Stories: Brandi Carlile Celebrates 10 Years of the Story (An Album to Benefit War Child), which features 14 artists covering the songs on their breakthrough album The Story with all proceeds benefiting War Child. Artists included on the acclaimed project, which Rolling Stone calls, “tender and powerful,” include Dolly Parton, Adele, Pearl Jam, Kris Kristofferson, The Avett Brothers, Margo Price and Jim James as well as a forward written by President Obama. More details can be found here.

In addition to their work as a band, Carlile and the Hanseroth twins remain committed to social activism and advocacy. Together, they are founders of the Looking Out Foundation, which aims to amplify the impact of music by empowering those without a voice. From neighborhood to nation, the foundation helps fund causes and organizations that often go unnoticed. $1 from every concert ticket sold goes directly toward efforts to support the diverse demographic they aim to serve. For more information on how to volunteer, donate or advocate visit lookingoutfoundation.org.

GRAND SLAM CHAMPIONS SERENA AND VENUS WILLIAMS
AND 2017 US OPEN SEMIFINALIST COCO VANDEWEGHE
TO FACE THE NETHERLANDS IN THE FED CUP BY BNP PARIBAS
WORLD GROUP FIRST ROUND IN ASHEVILLE, N.C., FEB. 10-11

Fourth member of Team USA to be Announced Next Week

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Jan. 23, 2018 – The USTA and United States Fed Cup Captain Kathy Rinaldi today announced that former world No. 1 and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, fellow former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, and 2017 US Open and Australian Open semifinalist and world No. 9 CoCo Vandeweghe will represent the U.S. in the 2018 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group First Round against the Netherlands.

The best-of-five match series will be played at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C., Feb. 10-11, on an indoor hard court. This is the first time that Asheville is hosting Fed Cup. The U.S. team comes to the city after winning its record 18th Fed Cup title in November against Belarus, 3-2, in Minsk. This was the U.S.’s first Fed Cup title since 2000.

Captain Rinaldi will announce the final member of the four-player roster next week. The Netherlands team will also be announced next week.

Play begins on both Saturday, Feb. 10, and Sunday, Feb. 11, at 12:30 p.m. ET. On Saturday, two singles matches will take place. On Sunday, play will continue with two reverse singles matches and the doubles match. A revised schedule for Sunday may take place if a team clinches in the third or fourth match. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage.

Limited tickets are still available and may be purchased by visiting www.usta.com/fedcup or by calling 888-334-USTA (8782). Both single-day and two-day ticket packages are available. Two-day ticket packages for both Saturday and Sunday range from $50 to $190 ($25 to $95 per day), representing the greatest initial ticket value. Single-day tickets for Saturday or Sunday play are available from $30 to $100 per day.

While tickets are going fast, numerous community events will take place over Fed Cup week to celebrate the team coming to Asheville, which will be announced at a later date.

Local tie sponsors for Fed Cup in Asheville include Ingles, Skyland Automotive, Omni Grove Park, Charter Spectrum, New Belgium Brewing, Citizen, and ExploreAshevile.com.

The U.S. Fed Cup team has played in North Carolina on three prior occasions, holding a 2-1 record in the state. The U.S. competed last in North Carolina in 2002, in Charlotte at the Olde Providence Racquet Club. The team also played in Raleigh in 1999 at the Raleigh Racquet Club, as well as in Wilmington in 1995 at Trask Coliseum.

The U.S. holds a 6-2 head-to-head record over the Netherlands in Fed Cup play. The U.S. last faced the Netherlands in the 1998 World Group First Round in Kiawah Island, S.C., sweeping the tie, 5-0. The Americans’ only losses to the Dutch came in 1968 and 1997.

World No. 5 Venus Williams, 37, continues to be at the top of her game, reaching the final of Wimbledon and the Australian Open in 2017 with a semifinal showing at the US Open. Last year, Williams had the 13th Top 10 season of her career and finished 2017 in the Top 5 for the first time since 2010. In 2013, Williams re-entered the Top 20 for the first time since revealing that she had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder. Williams is a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and has won 49 career WTA singles titles. She has been ranked No. 1 in both singles and doubles. Williams holds a 23-4 overall record in Fed Cup competition, including a 19-2 record in singles, and was a member of the title-winning team in 1999. She is competing in her first Fed Cup tie since February 2016. In Olympic play, Williams has won three gold medals in doubles (with Serena) in 2000, 2008 and 2012, and she captured the singles gold medal in 2000. Follow @venuswilliams on Instagram and @Venuseswilliams on Twitter.

Vandeweghe, 26, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is ranked a career-high No. 9 in the world. Vandeweghe made Fed Cup history last year by going 8-0 in singles and doubles play to lead the U.S. team to its 18th Fed Cup championship. With six singles wins in 2017, Vandeweghe became the first American ever, since the World Group format was instituted in 1995, to win all six Fed Cup singles matches in one year. She was also the first player to win eight rubbers (six singles, two doubles) in a Fed Cup year since 1995 and only the third player in Fed Cup history to win three rubbers in a Fed Cup Final (two singles and one doubles). Vandeweghe has played in seven Fed Cup ties, holding a 7-3 singles record and a 5-0 doubles record. She reached the semifinals of both the 2017 US Open and Australian Open—her career-best Grand Slam results—and broke into the Top 10 for the first time in November. Vandeweghe also advanced to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2015. She holds two WTA singles titles, both won in the Netherlands, in 2014 and 2016, as well as two doubles titles (Indian Wells in 2016 with Mattek-Sands, Stanford in 2017 with Abigail Spears). She competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio in women’s doubles and advanced to the doubles semifinals at the 2015 and 2016 US Open. As a junior player, Vandeweghe won the 2008 US Open girls’ singles title. Her mother, Tauna, was a member of the U.S. national team in both swimming and volleyball, and her uncle is former NBA star Kiki Vandeweghe. Follow @cocovandey on Instagram and @CoCoVandey on Twitter.

World No. 22 Serena Williams, 36, is competing in her first event since the 2017 Australian Open and since giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia in September. Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title at her last Australian Open while pregnant and now holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era. Williams has won 72 WTA singles titles and has finished a season ranked No. 1 five times in her career, the last coming in 2015. She has also been ranked No. 1 in doubles in her career, holding 23 doubles titles with Venus, including 14 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles. In 2012, Williams captured the Olympic gold medal in singles and women’s doubles with Venus in London. With the Olympic singles win, Williams joined Steffi Graf as the only women to complete the career Golden Slam—the Olympics and the four Grand Slam events—and she is the only person to accomplish the feat in both singles and doubles. Williams holds a 13-0 singles record and 3-1 doubles record in Fed Cup competition, last playing in the 2015 Fed Cup World Group II First Round against Argentina in Buenos Aires. She also helped the U.S. capture the 1999 Fed Cup title. Follow @serenawilliams on Instagram and @serenawilliams on Twitter.

Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with approximately 100 nations taking part each year. The U.S. holds an overall 149-36 record in Fed Cup competition with a 40-6 record in home ties. For more information, including access to player and historical Fed Cup records, please go to www.usta.com/fedcup or www.fedcup.com.

Keep up with Team USA using hashtag #TeamUSATennis on Facebook (@USTA), on Twitter (@USTA), and on Instagram (@USTA). Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Fed Cup team. Deloitte is the official team sponsor of the U.S. Fed Cup Team.

# # #

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, linking seven summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Fed Cup Captain Kathy Rinaldi to Visit U.S. Cellular Center
on December 20 to Discuss Tennis Coming to Asheville
and the United States’ 2017 Fed Cup Title

WHAT:

U.S. Fed Cup Captain and former world No. 7 tennis player Kathy Rinaldi will discuss the upcoming Fed Cup tennis match between the United States and the Netherlands that will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C., February 10-11. Rinaldi will also discuss the United States’ first Fed Cup title since 2000, which was won last month in Belarus.

Rinaldi will be in town for a site visit and will then test a portion of the court at the U.S. Cellular Center.

WHEN:                       

Wednesday, December 20
11:00 to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE:

U.S. Cellular Center (Arena Floor)
87 Haywood Street; Asheville, N.C. 28801
***Please enter at the main entrance at the Box Office.

BIO: 

Kathy Rinaldi is in her second year as U.S. Fed Cup Captain after being named the 19^th captain on December 8, 2016, succeeding Mary Joe Fernandez after eight years at the post.  In her debut year as captain, Rinaldi led the U.S. Fed Cup Team to its first title since 2000, becoming the first Fed Cup Captain since Marty Riessen in 1986 to win the Fed Cup title in their first year. Rinaldi currently serves as Lead National Coach, Team USA – Pro Women for USTA Player Development, focused on helping American pros achieve Top-100 rankings.

She has coached the U.S. to multiple junior international team competition titles and coached the U.S. women in the Pan-American Games in 2015. Rinaldi, 50, was ranked as high as No. 7 in the world in singles (May 1986) and No. 13 in the world in doubles (February 1993).

INFO: 

Tickets are going fast and may be purchased by visiting www.usta.com/fedcup or by calling 888-334-USTA (8782).  Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with approximately 100 nations taking part each year. This is the first time that Asheville will host Fed Cup. The U.S. team comes to the city after winning its record 18th Fed Cup title in November over Belarus, 3-2, in Minsk.

The U.S. holds a 6-2 head-to-head record over the Netherlands in Fed Cup play. The winner of this match-up will advance to the Fed Cup Semifinal, April 21-22.

For more information, visit www.usta.com/fedcup or www.fedcup.com.

CONTACT/RSVP:

Amanda Korba, Senior Coordinator, USTA Corporate Communications
914-697-2219 (office), 914-325-3751 (cell), korba@usta.com