An evening of elegance: Music meets wine in Auburn's exclusive fundraiser

The Auburn Symphony invites the community to an intimate evening where music, wine and conversation come together in a unique fundraiser supporting the Symphony's 40th anniversary. The Music & Wine‑Pairing Fundraiser will be held Oct. 9 at the General Gomez Event Center, 808 Lincoln Way in Auburn, and offers limited seating and features Maestro Ryan Murray and sommelier‑composer Theo Popov in a guided exploration of the Symphony's 2026-27 season. Guests are welcomed at 6 p.m. with a reception and live classical guitar from 6-6:30 p.m. The pairing program begins at 6:30 p.m., blending recorded musical highlights with curated tastings of PlacerGROWN wines from Casque Wines and Le Cavalier Cellars. Popov brings a rare dual expertise as a Court‑of‑Masters‑certified sommelier, WSET Diploma recipient, award‑winning composer and professor of music history. His collaboration with Maestro Murray creates an elevated pre‑concert experience designed to illuminate the season ahead. Proceeds from the fundraiser directly support the creation of the Symphony's 40th Anniversary Commission, a new orchestral work by composer Jonathan Bingham, selected through a national competition. Bingham's work has been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Davies Symphony Hall, and he currently serves on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. The commissioned work will receive its world premiere at the Mondavi Center in May 2028, marking a milestone moment for Auburn Symphony and the supporters who helped bring the new composition to life. For tickets and additional information, visit AuburnSymphony.com, call 530‑823‑6683, email AuburnSymphonyOffice@gmail.com or visit the Symphony office at 985 Lincoln Way, Suite 102 in Auburn. Season tickets are also available.