The Blue Ridge Orchestra’s final concert of the season—“An Evening with Billy Jonas”—is set to dazzle the audience with a mixture of Jonas’s eclectic talents with BRO’s symphonic contributions. The concert will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 29, at Diana Wortham Theatre. The event will also be the final concert for Ron Clearfield, the orchestra’s founder and conductor for the past 11 years.

“This concert, our second with Billy, is an appropriate swan song for me at it embodies my philosophy of blending the orchestra with great local talents,” says Ron.

Billy Jonas is known regionally and nationally for his highly engaging and energetic performances that include his brilliant songwriting and creative percussion.

Since the BRO’s inaugural season in 1999, the orchestra has continued to grow in popularity and musical accomplishment.

BRO has performed for the Asheville City/County plaza Fourth of July celebrations, entertained and educated over 10,000 school children through performances of Peter and the Wolf, and partnered with musicians from fiddle player Bobby Hicks to operatic tenor William Martin.

A nonprofit organization, the orchestra is comprised of accomplished amateur, semiprofessional, and professional musicians who volunteer their time in an effort to make orchestral music more accessible and affordable to the community.

In addition to being BRO’s director, Ron is a cellist and composer. He was previously a member of the Indianapolis Symphony, the Miami Philharmonic, and the Asheville Symphony. He has performed with such pop notables as George Benson, Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, and Dionne Warwick as well as with classical luminaries Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Seiji Ozawa.

He has released three critically acclaimed albums of his music and recently recorded on Steve Martin’s second album, Rare Bird Alert, and on a song called “Best Love,” written by Steve Martin and featuring Paul McCartney.

Ron says he will continue as music director and conductor of the Asheville Youth Orchestra.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for students and groups of five or more, and free for children under five. For tickets and more information about the orchestra, visit blueridgeorchestra.org or call 828.650.0948.