My wife Jane and I treated ourselves to a very special night out last Friday.

 We have been music lovers for all our lives and because of the travel required by my work we have had the opportunity to attend some fine concerts and performances in New York, London, Berlin, Milan etc. as well as nearer home in Atlanta, Charleston, Winston-Salem, Greenville, etc.

 None of these surpassed the Stephen Hough concert at Tryon Fine Arts Center last week. We were seated not more than thirty feet away to hear Mr. Hough, a World-renowned pianist at the top of his game, play a brilliant concert on the extraordinary Steinway Concert Grand piano to an appreciative crowd in an intimate hall with wonderful acoustics. Remarkable! Even more remarkable, we enjoyed this concert while comfortably sipping wine with our friends and neighbors not 10 minutes’ walk from our apartment. In fact, we didn’t walk. Since it was a bit cold, we drove three blocks and were met at the door by valet parking. 

Who needs New York, London, Berlin, Milan, etc.? We have Tryon!

 We are so fortunate to live here. Thank you, Tryon Concert Association and Tryon Fine Arts Center for bringing these treasures to our home town. And, thank you, friends and neighbors, for your generosity that makes Tryon such a wonderful place to live. Truly Remarkable!

Ben Fox, Tryon, N.C.