Kathy Thomas Photography
It is a special honor to be asked to chair the beautiful white tie Symphony Ball held at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.
We appreciate Suann Davis and Kayla Counts, the chairs of the 39th Annual Symphony Ball, one of the most elegant galas of the season, for sharing a bit of insight into their very busy lives as well as their enthusiasm for the upcoming event on December 9.
Nashville Lifestyles: What made you want to co-chair the Symphony Ball?
Kayla Counts: The Symphony is an integral reason we are called Music City. To be able to volunteer with an organization that has enriched the lives of my family as well as our entire community is an immense honor. I was very humbled to be asked to serve in this role and accepted on the spot.
Suann Davis: I absolutely love the Symphony! The Nashville Symphony has been part of our life for years and our family has had season tickets. I am a volunteer choir member at our church, St. George’s, where we have a number of professional singers, including members of the Symphony Chorus as well as a violinist in the Symphony. I have come to know them personally and have deep respect for their commitment to music in their lives.
NL: How are the funds raised by the event utilized and how much has been raised over the years?
KC: Funds from the Symphony Ball support the Nashville Symphony’s expansive education and community initiatives. This covers everything from offering free concerts to thousands of students in Middle Tennessee each year, to taking instrument “petting zoos” to schools, to offering intensive music training to gifted young musicians through the Accelerando program. The Symphony’s education and community offers are so varied and wide-reaching. It’s truly an amazing way to introduce music education to students who might otherwise not have access.
SD: Since the Symphony Ball was first held 39 years ago, the white-tie gala has raised more than $12 million. These funds have been critical to expanding the Symphony’s reach in the community and bringing music and the arts to students and adults alike across the city. We are so honored and humbled to play a small part in contributing to the wonderful work the organization does throughout the community.
NL: Why is supporting the Nashville Symphony so vital to our community?
KC: The Nashville Symphony is a crown jewel in our community, elevating our quality of life. Not only does the Symphony mean so much to my family, but it enhances the lives of countless people in our region that benefit from its free educational and community programming each year. Music promotes social and emotional well-being in people of all ages, and we are incredibly fortunate to have the Symphony in our own backyard.
SD: The Nashville Symphony is the singular anchor for classical and pops music in Nashville. It employs 79 professional musicians who have given their lives to learn, perfect, play, and promote incredible instrumental music and bring it to life for all of us. Without a doubt, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center is the most elegant location for many other important events including the Symphony Fashion Show, numerous large weddings, business seminars, and many other kinds of performing artist concerts.
NL: What inspires you to use your time, talents, and treasure to support nonprofits?
KC: The children of Nashville are our region’s future. Like the Symphony Ball, most of the fundraisers I have actively supported and volunteered with over the years provide direct funding to free programs that break down geographic and financial barriers and benefit children beyond the classroom. We need to work together to ensure all children in our community are given academic and extracurricular opportunities to grow and flourish.
SD: As a family, we see needs and want to help. The fabric of our personal lives that touches many different non-profits is connected to the people and community of Nashville. I had the pleasure of working at Bank of America as their Community Relations Manager before I stopped working a paying job. I had already been volunteering in the community for a decade, so I knew lots of these non-profits personally and could help them with resources and funds from the bank. My husband Ralph has been deeply involved in United Way, Leadership Nashville, Nashville Agenda, and the Public Education Foundation to name just a few. We are very pleased to see our children involved in non-profits they want to support, too. Our son, Max, is part of the Nashville Symphony Associates Board and our daughter, Emily, is a member of the Junior League, first in Nashville and now in NYC.