Raise your glass, raise it high – it’s time once again for Toast of the Town.
This fabulous Friday night affair, now in its 14th year, returns to the Convention & Trade Center March 1. Toast of the Town offers a festive atmosphere in yummy celebration of our city and all its many flavors, while raising money to support our beloved performing-arts institution, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.
The CSO is the second-oldest orchestra in the United States, founded in 1855 by a young German immigrant Herman Saroni, a student of Mendelssohn. For the past 37 years, the CSO has been conducted by a present-day maestro, the iconic George Del Gobbo.
“He’s just incredible,” CSO Executive Director Kern Wadkins says of Del Gobbo, whose tenure as Conductor / Music Director has enjoyed more artistic growth than any other time in the organization’s long, distinguished history. In addition to educational outreach efforts that enrich 15,000 local children a year, the CSO today features professional musicians performing classical concerts every month (save the summer) at the RiverCenter.
“Toast of the Town supports the legacy of what started in 1855,” Wadkins explains of the vital role the annual fundraiser plays in the non-profit arts group’s mission. “It’s a foundational part of our fundraising operation. Toast provides the support we need to cultivate the new generation of musicians – to build on that legacy with more programs for a more diverse audience.”
CSO’s next season marks its 170th anniversary. There are two more concerts this season: ‘Handel’s London’ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and ‘Tchaikovsky & Friends’ 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20. ‘Handel’s London’ will be in the RiverCenter’s acoustically pristine Legacy Hall, its intimacy ideal for an intermission where guests can mingle with the musicians and enjoy complimentary British delights in sherry and sweets (pastries, chocolates). ‘Tchaikovsky & Friends’ will be in the bigger Bill Heard Theater and comes highlighted by acclaimed guest pianist Katherine Chi from Canada, a sensation in the classical-music world known for her dazzling energy and spunky vibe.
Attracting more than 100 vendors, Toast features top local chefs preparing innovative dishes for guests to enjoy with a dizzying array of unique brewers, vintners, and distillers from across the South.
“I like that we are part of this celebration of the best in our region as far as food and beverage go,” Wadkins explains. “It’s a feast of sorts. Toast is also an audience-development event. It’s where some people hear about us for the first time and it’s where I get to see people I wouldn’t otherwise and share some food with them. So come see your neighbors and have some fun.”
Toast of the Town, 7 p.m. Friday, March 1, Columbus Convention & Trade Center (801 Front Ave.) Tickets $110 advance + fees, (includes unlimited food and drink). Ages 21+ ToastColumbus.com.
By Frank Etheridge