Symphony Ball Co-chairs Discuss the Event’s History Ahead of its 40th Anniversary

A Look Back

1985 BROUGHT CHANGE and innovation. To kick off the year, Microsoft released Windows 1.0. Back to the Future sold out at the box office, and Wham!’s Careless Whisper topped the Billboard charts. 

This was also the year of the first Symphony Ball, created to support the Nashville Symphony. The evening — co-chaired by Judy Simmons and Jeannie Hastings and held at the Vanderbilt Plaza (now the Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza) — was a spectacular beginning to what has become a beloved winter tradition. This year, the Symphony Ball celebrates its 40th year with a charming Winter Wonderland theme, courtesy of its first male co-chairs, Jason Bradshaw and Bob Deal.

About the Co-chairs

Jason Bradshaw and Bob Deal are no strangers to philanthropy. For years, the couple has graciously donated their time, talent and treasure to a variety of organizations — even hosting several events in their beautiful home. 

The power couple can be found chairing events, working on committees, stuffing invitation envelopes or helping with day-of event setup, because they believe it is important and inspiring to give to the arts. They hold firmly to the belief that nonprofit arts organizations thrive when they have a diverse and passionate bevy of patrons and consistent funding to support not only performances, but also community initiatives that bring the arts to a wider audience.

Leaving Their Mark

WHAT CAN GUESTS expect from this year’s Symphony Ball? “It is a party in three acts: dinner and dancing, followed by the Harmony Award recipient presentation and performance, then the always energetic late party,” Jason says. The chairs are excited to bring back the tradition of the Craig Duncan Orchestra performing during the dinner hour to encourage dancing. “Our goal is to make it memorable and fun with lots of smiling faces, and to also help establish some great funding for the Nashville Symphony,” Bob adds. 

Many guests hold decades of memories of the Symphony Ball, and for Jason and Bob, two performances stand out. In 2012, Harmony Award recipient Keith Urban took the stage and entranced the crowd. Their second favorite memory is when the Nashville Symphony played “Moon River” to a rapt audience at the 2016 ball.