On Tuesday, May 3, the Tryon Concert Association presented the final concert of its 56th year. Tuesday’s concert featured the world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning Chanticleer in a performance that concert-goers said more than lived up to its billing as “an orchestra of voices.”

Now that it’s over, organizers said it’s reassuring to reflect on the success of this and previous seasons. Of course, quality music presented by world-class artists is the key, they said. That requires a dedicated and knowledgeable program committee that develops a rapport with artists’ agents and the artists themselves to find the best time for them to come to Tryon. It’s a process that requires working ahead for as long as five years. Audiences have noted how successful that process has been in identifying and booking excellent performers. A frequent comment is that it is surprising how many artists include Tryon as a performing venue.

Another key, organizers say, is the generosity of the Tryon Concert Association subscribers whose contributions enable the TCA to keep its concert series prices reasonable. TCA’s concert series has a long history of being fully subscribed.

Another key to the success of TCA, subscribers said, is the TCA’s board of directors, whose work in developing the programs is never done.

The 2011-12 season is already booked. It was announced at the closing concert. A more formal announcement will be mailed to past subscribers the end of May.

For subscription information, contact Dorothy Wyckoff at 828-859-6065, or write the Tryon Concert Association, P.O. Box 32, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

– article submitted by Bill Wuehrmann