By Linda Jones

Special to the Post

The Salisbury Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! The “party” will last from September 2016 through May 2017. Everyone is invited!

“One of the awesome aspects of this hallmark is that in this country there are only six communities our size that can boast of supporting a professional symphony orchestra for fifty years or more,” offers Charles Bernheim.

Charles knows something about longevity — his heritage reaches back to the earliest records of the New York Philharmonic. His grandfather’s name was listed as a supporter more than 110 years ago! Charles and Rachel Oestreicher Bernheim continue their legacy of arts support in many different areas and now offer support of the Salisbury Symphony’s future by agreeing to be Honorary Guest Conductors of the Society’s 50th Anniversary Campaign.

Joining the Bernheims as Honorary Guest Conductors are legendary philanthropists Fred and Alice Stanback, Bill and Nancy Stanback, Mary H. Messinger, Gerry Hurley, Ralph Ketner, Bill and Shari Graham, Lee and Mona Lisa Wallace, F&M Bank, Cloninger Ford/Toyota/Scion and the Catawba and Livingstone Colleges.

Two goals direct the activities: one is to acknowledge, remember, and celebrate the individuals and organizations in this community who spearheaded the outrageous notion that a small, Southern town could support a professional symphony orchestra! The second goal is to raise funds for next season’s concert series, our various music education programs, the orchestra’s special events, our endowment, and the publications that share our extraordinary story.

According to Susan Kluttz, North Carolina secretary of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, “Salisbury is a special place, and having its own symphony orchestra is one of the reasons why. The Salisbury Symphony is a treasure and has been a great cultural asset for its citizens for nearly 50 years. I am proud to call Salisbury home!”

Linda Jones is executive director of the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Society.