Last night marked the 18th season of the the Austin Symphony BATS.
Thank you to our generous sponsors. Thank you to our members, old and new, for unlocking the magic of the night with us; from the Austin Symphony Orchestra‘s debut of a harpsichord performance at the Long Center, to the kindness of the Heller’s opening up their private residence to mingle with Maestro Peter Bay and Anton Nel post-show.
We couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Kick off the season with us!
We welcome you back, and invite you to raise a glass to the 18th season of the Symphony BATS. Come mix and mingle before diving into another unforgettable season with us! Wednesday,August 30th, from 6-8pm the BATS will take over the historic Doyle House, nestled in the heart of the Red River district. We will be on hand to talk about what we’ve been up to, and what we have in store for you. Come hear first hand about our incredible after party venue for your opening concert and the secret ingredients headed your way to top off each night you spend with the BATS!
Not a member yet? What are you waiting for!
We invite you to come learn about our membership, meet our board, and mingle with other classical music lovers. You’ll hear details about the upcoming BATS season concerts and the exclusive after parties that accompany them. Learn in depth about our favorite Behind the Scenes and Symphony 101 events that are guided by the Austin Symphony Maestro, Peter Bay. Joining the BATS is the only way to enhance your music going experience – all while enjoying lite bites, wine, and signature cocktails.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017 • 6-8pm • The Doyle House • 1007 Red River • #ASOBATS
Welcome to the 18th Season of the Symphony BATS! We look forward to sharing another wonderful season of friends, social events and classical concerts. I would like to thank our season sponsors, the ASO staff and Maestro Peter Bay for their continued support, and most importantly our Symphony BATS Members from our 2016|17, and previous seasons.
This season we will welcome the return of pianists Anton Nel and Olga Kern, a night of Prokofiev, and organist Cameron Carpenter anchoring your calendar for four Austin Symphony Orchestra concerts and signature after parties. Additionally, we’re excited to continue our exclusive Behind the Scenes, Symphony 101, and BATS at the Brewery events with you. These opportunities are made possible by the generosity of Maestro Peter Bay, the ASO, and our sponsors. I encourage you to attend as many as you wish, as they are the magic that make the Symphony BATS an organization truly unlike any other in Austin.
We will continue to request RSVPs for our events through Eventbrite and share our experiences as well as any pertinent event updates through our Facebook and Twitter. RSVPs enhance our ability to right-size, enhance, and provide a more seamless experience at our events, we ask for your help in this effort.
Thank you, as always, for supporting the performing arts in the Austin community. I look forward to you joining us for another unforgettable year as a member of the Symphony BATS. Renew your membership, and discover more about the upcoming concerts by visiting our website.
The Board of Directors and I are honored by the opportunity to connect you to the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and cheers to what will be another wonderful year with the Symphony BATS!
Ben Heitner
Symphony BATS President, 2017-18 Season
We’re in the thick of summer, and what could be better than stretching out on the Long Center’s lawn to share a picnic blanket and snacks? This past Sunday, July 23rd, BATS members did just that as they were swingin’ with music from the big band era with the live accompaniment provided by the Austin Symphony Orchestra!
A gift from the Hartman Family Foundation, these concerts are complementary to attend in presentation to the Austin community as a thank you for its continued, generous support.
You know what else was generous? Tito’s. Thanks for keeping us cool with all of the sunnies for the hot summer months!
Unwind during the summer nights with sounds from your symphony as we gear up for another incredible BATS season.
Our last meet up is August 13th for the Woodwinds Summer Concert in the Park – don’t miss it!
A defining moment for the Symphony BATS dates back to September of 2016, where the opportunity to partner with Nordstrom in a preview and party of their latest store installment in The Domain came to fruition. Ticket sales from that evening garnered over $35,000 in proceeds benefitting the Austin Symphony BATS.
What’s even better? In December, the Symphony BATS Board of Directors presented the Austin Symphony Orchestra with a check for $35,240!
The evening was also capped off by the presentation of the Long Award, an annual award given by the BATS Board of Directors to an ASO Board member for outstanding support of the Austin Symphony. Karen & Paul are the 17th recipients of the Long Award – named after longtime Symphony patrons and first recipients of the award – Joe & Teresa Long.
Karen and Paul Leeke are generous supporters of the Annual fund and the Young Composers Competition. Karen actively serves on the Individual Giving Committee, which meets monthly. She is very creative with great ideas on how to inspire others to get involved, and she serves as secretary of the board, the official note taker for board meetings. Karen has been a member of the WSL for nearly 25 years and just this past season Paul served as Chancellor of the Knights. The Leekes are Arbor Series members who have been known to sponsor the head table. Outside of their involvement with the Symphony, the Leekes support many other non-profits including the Settlement Home and the New Milestones Foundation.
Nordstrom Domain Northside offered a stellar preview and party to celebrate their brand-new store in the latest installment of The Domain before opening day. Tickets sold garnered over $35,000 in proceeds benefitting the Austin Symphony BATS! Austinites gathered for food and drinks, including specialty bites from local favorites La Barbecue and Lucy’s Fried Chicken, fashion presentations and live performances by Sour Bridges, a local brown grass favorite and Austin native Tameca Jones. Photos by Ben Porter Photography, courtesy of Nordstrom.
Join the Symphony BATS for our social kickoff event of the season Thursday, August 4th, from 5:30-8pm at the Capitol Vault. We invite you to come learn about our membership, meet our board, and mingle with other classical music lovers. You’ll hear details about the upcoming season concerts, our fall partnership with Nordstrom. Learn about our favorite Behind the Scenes and BATS at the Brewery events while enjoying light bites, signature cocktails from Tito’s Vodka, and views of some classic photographs of silver screen artists. The Capitol Vault will be on hand to answer any questions about their photos, and a portion of any purchase made this evening will go to the BATS.
Continue reading “Come, Enter the Vault with us!”
Have you heard the news? We’re ecstatic to be the beneficiary of Nordstrom’s newest location opening event, and we want you to be part of the magic!
Continue reading “Have you heard? Nordstrom is throwing a party in our honor!”
Welcome to the 17th Season of the Symphony BATS! We look forward to starting another wonderful season of friends, social events and classical concerts. I’d like to thank our season sponsors, the ASO staff and Maestro Peter Bay for their continued support, and most importantly our Symphony BATS Members from our 2015|16, and previous seasons.
Continue reading “Welcome to the 17th Season of the Symphony BATS!”
Austin Symphony Orchestra BATS 