Lake Norman Orchestra is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. In May 2003, the orchestra performed its first public concert on the steps of the Davidson Public Library with only 20 musicians. In May 2008, LKNO now boasts over 60 active members. As a volunteer community orchestra, LKNO relies heavily on community financial support to sustain its music programs.

To commemorate this notable milestone, Lake Norman Orchestra launched a "5 for 5" fundraising campaign. A $5 donation for each of 5 years from everyone in the Lake Norman community will help ensure another five years of beautiful music. Keep the Music Alive and Donate $25! For more details on how to make a tax-deductible contribution, click here.

Logo design courtesy of Vermillion Creative Group, Inc. (VCG).

Okay, with seventy degree weather outside (and even warmer inside!), the holidays may have seemed to be months away. However, with the help of some incredible music, a wonderful children´s choir and an early appearance of Santa Claus, everyone was in the holiday spirit by the conclusion of the concert!

Lake Norman Orchestra would like to thank our many patrons. Thanks to you, our 2007 Holiday concert was the most successful to date, with over 700 in attendance. Wow! Your generous support will go a long way toward ensuring that the various LKNO music programs and offerings will continue in 2008.

At this year´s event, two dozen of our lucky patrons left with early holiday treats valued at $1,500, thanks to the many sponsors of our 2007 Holiday concert. The generous support of area businesses like these is vital to the success and growth of your community orchestra . So please, the next time you visit one of these supporters, extend your thanks on behalf of LKNO.

WOW! How else do you describe such an incredibly awesome event? If you weren´t at the "Summer Celebration" sponsored by the Lowe´s YMCA in Mooresville, you were one of the few people missing. For several hours that evening it appeared that the entire population of Mooresville and the surrounding Lake Norman area was at the Lowe´s YMCA enjoying an evening of fun, food and of course music by Lake Norman Orchestra. If you were there, undoubtedly you agree that words seem so inadequate for attempting to describe the evening. Regardless, for the many thousands (yes, thousands!) who were present, the festivities will be linger in our hearts, our minds and our memories for years to come!

LKNO would like to thank our gracious sponsor and host, the Lowe´s YMCA in Mooresville, for all their hard work in planning and presenting this incredible, inaugural ´Summer Celebration´ event. And a special thanks to one of LKNO´s own, Ms. Susan Wolff, the Lowe´s YMCA Volunteer Director and Special Events Coordinator. Be sure to express our thanks and yours the next time you visit the Y! While you are there, be sure to pick up a refrigerator magnet of our concert schedule. And don´t forget to mark your calendar for July 3, 2008 for what should prove to be an even greater encore event!

"Out Back" with LKNO returned to Kenton Place in Cornelius on Sunday, May 20, 2007.

Once again, Stephanie McDonald, proprietor of Outback Steakhouse in Huntersville, returned with her fabulous crew and prepared a delicious meal of steak, chicken, green beans and their signature chopped salad for the concert patrons. How Stephanie and her folks prepared and served so many hungry souls so quickly remains a mystery to me but there was no doubt about how much our patrons enjoyed their meals prepared in that unique Outback style.

For those of you who shared your afternoon with us, thank you. Please help LKNO say "thank you" by visiting Outback Steakhouse in Huntersville, and personally thanking Stephanie and her crew for supporting Lake Norman Orchestra. In case you didn´t know, Outback Steakhouse graciously donated their time, talent and all the tantalizing food for this event with all the proceeds, over $2000, going to support the various music programs of LKNO.

If you missed this year´s event, you missed a real treat. To avoid missing future concerts, you might want to consider joining our e-mail distribution list for special announcements and other LKNO news. Simply email our Events Coordinator or call the Lake Norman Orchestra at 704.664.8220 and request to be added to our mailing list. Be sure leave your name and e-mail address with your message.

Like the saying goes, success has its price. The continued success of Lake Norman Orchestra has created a wonderful challenge for us; We need more rehearsal space!

For several years, LKNO has been very blessed to be offered rehearsal space at Peninsula Baptist Church in Mooresville. Although PBC has always been and continues to be a most gracious host, they too are experiencing the challenges of growth. In response to that challenge, PBC is hoping to begin construction on a new music building and worship hall to begin as early as year end or early 2008. If you have ever built a house or done any remodeling of your existing home, you know how challenging it can be to "live" in the midst of a construction zone.

So, LKNO is looking for a new rehearsal space that will allow us to continue to grow our membership, acquire additional assets such as percussion instruments and relieve some of the challenges facing PBC and their pending construction activities. An ideal facility would provide between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet of rehearsal space and be free of obstructions such as large columns, partitions or walls. While not mandatory, oversized ceilings are preferable to help with the dispersal of our sound and to keep our music director from loosing his hearing! In addition, the facility would need to have about 200 sq. ft. of secured, climate-controlled storage for various equipment and instruments.

As a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) entity, any donation of space or discount in rates or service fees to LKNO qualifies as a charitable donation as recognized by the IRS. Therefore, if you know of such a facility and you would be interested in supporting your community orchestra, please contact our Venue Logistics coordinator, Walter Klepfer via email or by phone at 704.664.6515.