2024 Black Tie & Blue Jeans Coming Up!

Royalty reigns when Ken Lavigne brings the music of three beloved “musical” knights of the British realm—Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Elton John—to one of the city’s favorite annual events, the Great Falls Symphony’s Black Tie & Blue Jeans fundraiser.

“It’s really a great party we have every year on the first Friday in March, and the Newberry in downtown Great Falls is such a cool place to enjoy dancing and great food, and, of course, the famous dessert auction,” said Grant Harville, the Symphony’s music director and conductor. “It can get a little rowdy and that’s just how we like it!”

The event will also be a great night to see a performer you won’t have another chance to see here in Great Falls.

The well-known Lavigne, whose career includes a Carnegie Hall appearance and numerous solo performances and recordings, showcases his outstanding lyric tenor voice in his 3 Knights with a Tenor concert, featuring musical hits from the three British legends.

The Black Tie & Blue Jeans event is a fundraiser to support the Symphony’s youth education mission and orchestras. “This is a fun event that just happens to do some really good things for our community,” said Harville.

In addition to the incredible music, food and dancing, there will be a raffle, silent auction, balloon pops with chances to win Montana scratch tickets and $500 cash, plus a donor Paddle Raise.

“This year, our board of directors is doing a dollar-for-dollar match for every donation given during the paddle raise, up to $10,000,” said GFSA Director Hillary Shepherd.

Raffle prizes include an elegant Stressless Mayfair recliner donated by Ferrin’s Furniture and a beautiful 12-diamond pendant on a 14k white gold chain, donated by Crown Jewelers. Tickets can be purchased online or at the event. Winners will be drawn at the event.

Silent auction items include a Cabin Ski Package for two nights in a quaint log cabin in Monarch, Montana, plus a Showdown gift card for two lift tickets; A Week in a Kona Condo package includes a two-bedroom condo in historic Kona on the big island of Hawaii, close to shops, restaurants, and beach, available January 15-22, 2025; Two Newberry Loft VIP tickets for the Beatles Tribute Band 1964 on March 22, 2023; Dinner Music by Megan Karls, GFSA co-concertmaster, for the perfect touch for your home dinner party or a surprise anniversary/birthday appearance at a local restaurant; A chance to be Maestro for a Moment to conduct the GFS Orchestra as they perform “Sleigh Ride” during the 2024 Christmas concert; and a special Violin Serenade by the Strolling Strings of GFSA co-concertmaster Mary Papoulis.

Headline sponsors for the event include D.A. Davidson Companies, Fetch and Stifel.

Individual tickets to the event are $90 each and include a delicious buffet-style dinner compliments of Enbar. Headline Sponsor and Corporate Sponsor tables are available.

For more information, go to www.gfsymphony.org/black-tie-blue-jeans.