Two weeks before the end of the winter season, CSO’s Music with a View development event was hosted by the Bank of America on the top floor of its Uptown Charlotte tower building. This happened to be the first donor reception since I won my Grammy and the bank’s Executive Chef went all out to make it a special celebration, creating a parade of canapés to represent every country I’ve ever lived or worked in, with gold-painted Grammy-chocolates as a sweet finish!
It was wonderful to see many of the orchestra’s most enthusiastic supporters in that impressive space with delicious food, beautiful live music and an incredible view of the Charlotte Skyline.
The best part was that my engraved Grammy had arrived that very morning at CSO headquarters, and I decided not to open it then and there but to wait and share the reveal with my musicians, the CSO staff and the assembled sponsors. It was an unreal experience opening the unassuming brown FedEx box and removing the protective foam to reveal the gleaming sculpture inside. It now lives in the living room of my Charlotte pad as a souvenir of an incredible season, an unexpected honour and an unforgettable celebration!
