The kitchen is the most important room in the house. It’s meant for working and for relaxing.
Inevitably, it’s where family and friends gather not only to cook and eat but also to talk and spend time together.
Thanks to Symphony Friends, kitchens also were a place to see and be seen earlier in May.
The all-volunteer affiliate of the Grand Rapids Symphony hosted “Well-Orchestrated Kitchens,” a tour of six fabulous kitchens in Grand Rapids, on May 5.
Owners of six homes opened their doors to visitors in a fundraiser for the Grand Rapids Symphony’s educational programs.
The event was a success, according to Bonnie Monhart, president of Symphony Friends, which formerly was known as the Grand Rapids Symphony Women’s Committee. The organization raised about $17,000 after expenses.
“It was great,” she said. “The weather could not have been more perfect, and we had a steady stream of people at each house.
“I think we probably had about 250 in attendance,” she added. “The musicians played beautifully, and, we’ve been receiving a lot of unsolicited positive comments about the event.”
The event featured a tour of six kitchens, uniquely designed, and well-appointed, in the Grand Rapids area. The six included two mid-century remodels, one with an outdoor kitchen, and one with a wine cellar.
Live music by musicians of the Grand Rapids Symphony and demonstrations were part of the “heart of the home” tour.
In addition to seeing magnificent kitchens, “Well-Orchestrated Kitchens” offered a variety of food and home-related activities including demonstrations such as flower arranging with Easter Floral and easy appetizers and summer entertaining from Art of the Table.
Last year, Symphony Friends’ spring fundraiser, “Blandford Enchanted” welcomed over 1,300 guests and raised more than $13,000 to support the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony and other education programs that are part of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Gateway to Music, a network of 17 access points for people of all ages and walks of life to engage with orchestral music.
Earlier this year, the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Fifth Grade Concerts welcomed more than 15,000 youngsters to DeVos Performance Hall for a live concert experience.
Follow Grand Rapids Symphony’s Symphony Friends on Facebook.