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<p>The recently-established Foundation for Leadership Education will host The Duke Symphony Orchestra’s 16th year of entertaining the Beaufort community with a concert at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at USCB’s Center for the Arts.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Beaufort is the only community that partners with Duke for off-campus performances. The 60-piece orchestra is made up of Duke University students who travel to Beaufort by bus and are hosted by Beaufort families for the weekend.</p>
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<p>The Beaufort Academy Blue Notes, directed by Vic Varner, will perform two pieces accompanied by the orchestra. Following the concert, there will be an optional “Conductor’s Reception” at a private home in downtown Beaufort, wherein guests enjoy refreshments and meet the Duke students and their leader, conductor Harry Davidson.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The event has a serendipitous origin, as Davidson and his wife were visiting their good friends D. C. and Nancy Gilley in Beaufort for a birthday celebration, where Davidson met Alice Moss, then director of the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Foundation. Out of those friendships, the idea was born. BMH partnered with Duke University to create a special fundraiser, and over the next 14 years the Duke orchestra raised over $200,000 for BMH programs. Now the hospital continues its support as a key sponsor.</p>
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<p>"Beaufort Memorial has enjoyed a strong relationship with the Duke Symphony and fully endorses the continuation of bringing such a wonderful event to the residents of Beaufort," said Debbie Schuchmann, Associate VP and Chief Development Officer for the BMH Foundation. "Being a small community, it is important we all recognize the need to support each other’s efforts and missions to make this the healthiest and culturally sound community in the Lowcountry. I like to think of this change as a passing of the torch from one strong community leader to another, and personally look forward to attending this time-honored tradition.”</p>
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<p>Proceeds of this year’s Duke concert will help provide scholarships through the new foundation.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>“April 6th will be a special night for Beaufort and will make a positive impact in our community, as our new foundation strengthens leadership education for children in schools throughout Beaufort County,” said Charles Tumlin, chairman of the Foundation for Leadership Education.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
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<p>General admission tickets are $40 before April 5 and $50 at the door. Patron admission &amp; Conductor’s Reception tickets are $80 presale or $90 at the door. This event has sold out in the past, so tickets are not guaranteed to be available at the door.</p>
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