Nashville Symphony hosts first in-person event since pandemic began

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Nashville Symphony hosted its first in-person event since the pandemic hit last year.

The Symphony Fashion Show is the first event back with a live audience of any kind in the concert hall. It’s one of the symphony’s major fundraisers.

The show kicked off Wednesday evening and featured the fall 2021 collection from fashion designer Zang Toi.

In a building where beautiful music bounces off the walls, it was quiet for more than 12 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the music played again tonight.

"Music has such great power to express those things for which there are simply no words and to heal. I believe our entire music industry in this community is not on only in the verge of its recovery but is poised to really help this community recover from last year and move forward," said Alan Valentine, the CEO of the Nashville Symphony.

People showed up wearing their best suits and dresses.

"It’s nice to get out and have a fun night on the town," said Kelly Dill, "And actually put a little make-up on," said Megan Fox.

They stepped out of their cars into the Schermerhorn Symphony Center for the 2021 Symphony Fashion Show charity event.

"It will be really our first opportunity to breath life back into this beautiful building that has set idle and vacant for so long," said Valentine.

The concert hall was transformed into a runaway as models strutted across the floor, and was all to benefit local educational programs.

And guests couldn't wait to step out back into some normalcy.

"Seeing the symphony and getting out and actually getting dressed up, having a good time," said Fox.

There was also be performances by Carly Pearce, Runaway June and Nashville Symphony Accelerando students. The symphony was expecting 180 guests in-person, plus people watched virtually.

The symphony partnered with HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health to serve as the Official Health and Safety Partner for the symphony to deliver a safe and entertaining experience for all in attendance.

The fashion show helps raise money for the symphony’s music education programs.

"I, as a member of Music City, believe we ought to have the most robust music education and infrastructure in the entire world in this city,” said Valentine. “As the pandemic hit, we had to pivot a lot of that to virtual content and as we come out of that we’re all so anxious to get back into the business of serving the young people of our community," said Valentine.

Proceeds from the Symphony Fashion Show supports the Nashville Symphony’s education and community engagement programs – which annually reach tens of thousands of Middle Tennessee children and adults through free concerts, classroom activities, hands-on instruction and more – as well as helping to sustain the Nashville Symphony’s mission of achieving artistic excellence through outstanding performances, world premieres, commissions and GRAMMY®-winning recordings.