Georgia Symphony Orchestra hosts the Legendary Andrew Young as Keynote Speaker at Celebrity Luncheon Fundraiser on March 18

Andrew Young, Jr., former ambassador to the United Nations, former congressman, past mayor of Atlanta and civil rights icon (pictured above), will be the keynote speaker at the Georgia Symphony Orchestra’s annual Celebrity Luncheon fundraiser. The event will take place on Saturday, March 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Marietta Country Club and is open to the public.

Ambassador Young will be joined by a diverse and entertaining group of talented local artists, authors, musicians and business leaders. Proceeds from the event will benefit the GSO’s musical performance, youth education and outreach programs.
Not only are guests certain to be inspired by Ambassador Young, but they also will select to be seated at a table with one of a carefully curated collection of influential and creative area personalities to learn more about them. A specially created three-course menu will be prepared by Gary Sanderson, Marietta Country Club executive chef, and his team.

Highlights of this year’s notables include:

Emily Carpenter

Best-selling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls

Claire Dunaway Cyr

Matt DeBusschere

Owner of Marietta Melt Yard and food columnist for the Marietta Daily Journal

Courtenay Eckardt

Cast member of original Broadway production of The Prom

A.J. Gnuse

Best-selling author of inaugural novel, Girl in the Walls

Kim Gresh

Owner and president of S.A. White Oil Company, Inc.

Karla Harris

Internationally-recognized and local favorite GSO Jazz! vocalist

Missy Owen

Founder of The Zone and Davis Direction Foundation

Chris Savas

Photographer of business, music, political and sports icons

Bobby Thomas

Co-founder of Red Hare Brewery and Distillery

Tanya Twaddell

First female deputy chief of the Marietta Police Department

Bill Waldrop

Daylily expert and nationally recognized hybridizer

Lori Wilson

The event also will provide a fantastic opportunity for guests to indulge themselves from among an array of silent and live auction goodies, such as rare trinkets and tidbits, stunning fine art and everyday splurges.

Founded in Marietta in 1951, the GSO has become one of Georgia’s finest community-supported, multifaceted performing arts organizations through imaginative programming, visionary leadership and critically acclaimed performances.

Proceeds from the event will allow the GSO to continue delivering classical, jazz and pops concerts of high-quality choral and instrumental music, and inspiring and educating young musicians through the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra—one of the 10 largest such programs in the country.

Ticket prices start at $50 and must be purchased in advance online at georgiaaymphony.org/all-events. Marietta Country Club is located at 1400 Marietta Country Club Dr NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152.

Celebrity line up subject to change. Photography courtesy to Marietta Talks.