Once again the Natchez Festival of Music is happy to bring our annual exciting and romantic benefit evening to the Carriage House Restaurant — Stanton Hall on Friday, Feb. 7. 

This special benefit includes a seated dinner, musical entertainment, a silent auction featuring local artists’ works plus antiques and vintage Items and a live auction featuring four incredibly fabulous travel packages.

Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktails (cash bar) and silent auction bidding. The show and seated dinner begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75 each ($40 being tax deductible) and advance tickets can be purchased by calling 601-807-4442 or on line at www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com.

For early viewing and bidding all silent auction Items will be on display Friday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the foyer of The Carriage House.   

This year more than 40 of our local artists have generously donated their beautiful and creative works including original oils and acrylics on canvas and paint board, custom designed jewelry, framed photographs, pottery, gift certificate for portrait sitting and unique antiques and vintage pieces.

Also on view will be photographs of the spectacular travel package venues that will be offered during our live auction Friday evening.

These picturesque venues are a two-bedroom lake house on Lake St. John; a two-bedroom condo in Gatlinburg, Tennessee; “The Schoolhouse” — a 120-year-old former one-room school house renovated in 2012 into a three-bedroom guest house, Napa Valley, California; and “The Bridgehampton Barn”— an original family barn renovated into a four-bedroom vacation home, Bridgehampton, New York. Pictures of these fabulous venues will be rolling on the big screen in the restaurant throughout lunch Friday, Feb. 7. 

During the seated dinner, Jennifer and Sam Bruton will be performing a variety of romantic show tunes from classics like “Show Me” from My Fair Lady to modern pieces like “All that Matters” from Neverland.

So, as you can see, this is a romantic evening not to be missed.  Not only will one enjoy quality music and performances, but everyone there will be supporting the Natchez Festival of Music’s 30th Season opening May 2, 2020, with the opera “Romeo et Juliette,” with the symphony conducted by Dr. Jay Dean.

During the week prior to this performance, the Festival is partnering with local school English departments which will be requiring their appropriate grade-level students to read Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliette” on which the opera is based.

To enrich the students’ experience, the Festival’s very own “William Shakespeare,” in costume, will make a personal appearance to each class at each school and perform a reading from the play. Participating students, teachers and schools will be recognized at the performance of the opera on May 2, 2020, at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center, 64 Homochitto St. in Natchez.

The remainder of our 30th Season will include a very diverse program of music at many different venues in Natchez. They are “Moments of Spring” featuring Lagniappe Trio at Temple B’nai Israel; “Friday Fusion” featuring the Diamond Trio at New Covenant Presbyterian Church; “Classical Landscapes” featuring pianist Jonathan Levin at Trinity Episcopal Church; “Rossini, Puccini and Martinis” featuring guest artists at Stanton Guest House; “Luckenbach Willie Nelson”—Tribute Band at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center; “Disco 54” at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center; “Moonlight and Magic” vocal concert by Stacey Trenteseaux at Trinity Episcopal Church; “Salon Music of the Silver Screen II” at The Towers; “Satchmo! — Tribute to Louis Armstrong” featuring Kimble Funchess at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center; “Take Five,” an evening of Dave Brubeck’s music, at Waverly Plantation; and our finale — “String of Pearls,” a concert celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Natchez Festival of Music, featuring Dr. Jay Dean and the Festival orchestra at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

Ticketing to all events and more information about our 30th Season can be found on the Natchez Festival of Music’s website, www.natchezfestivalofmusic.com or by calling 601-807-4442. A huge “thank you” to all of our contributors who have so graciously and generously given to our silent and live auctions for our 2020 benefit evening. And another huge thank you to all of our annual contributors and sponsors, as well as to everyone who attends our events. It is because of you that the Festival can continue to present quality entertainment each year.

The Natchez Festival of Music plans to be an important part of the cultural fabric of our city and state for another 30+ years, as well as a benefit to this region by providing quality of life events for our citizens and educational events for students, and by serving as a tool for tourism and economic development.

Our vision is to be a driving force for cultural activity that attracts people to Natchez and Mississippi from around the world. 

Come for the music. Stay for the experience.

Mary Lessley is the fundraising chairman Natchez Festival of Music.