The Asheville Symphony has partnered with Biltmore to record an original piece of music for Luminere, the estate’s newly announced outdoor experience that illuminates Biltmore’s historic grounds with light, imagery, and sound, opening in March 2026.

Led by Asheville Symphony Music Director Darko Butorac, Asheville Symphony musicians recorded the score at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studios, with composer Julian Grefe present to collaborate during the sessions. Asheville Symphony’s studio recording will be complemented by additional music, some of which was captured inside the Biltmore House featuring local musicians such as Asheville Symphony keyboardist, Jamar Woods, alongside music from artists around the world.

“The Asheville Symphony is committed to creating connections between great music and the places that make our community extraordinary,” said Daniel Crupi, executive director of the Asheville Symphony. “To collaborate with Biltmore, an iconic landmark and a defining part of Asheville’s cultural landscape, is both an honor and an exciting opportunity to share the power of orchestral music in a truly inspiring place.”

Grefe’s score was inspired by Biltmore’s architecture, gardens, and history, blending emotion and structure to mirror the estate’s story. He drew on archival research into Biltmore founder George Vanderbilt’s musical tastes to reimagine period works and incorporated recordings from within Biltmore House, including the estate’s 1916 Skinner pipe organ, to capture its acoustic character.

“The choice could have been made to score this electronically — but that wasn’t what this project called for,” Grefe said. “The emotional depth needed could only have been achieved through a human touch, and the end result is truly special.”

That human connection was key to grounding the work in its setting. “The skill, insight, and nuanced input of the maestro and players during their performances were critical in bringing the works to life in a way that only they could,” Grefe said. “The inclusion of local musicians and cultural institutions was vital to the project – a really wonderful sense of community can be felt because of this.”

Biltmore Vice President of Guest Experience Chase Pickering says that it was important to infuse the project with a sense of place.

“Biltmore is incredibly honored to showcase the local talents of the Asheville Symphony as part of the original score for Luminere,” said Pickering. “When we first started planning Luminere, I felt a collaboration between the composer and the Asheville Symphony would bring a powerful sense of place and added emotion to this spectacular musical score. The result is truly extraordinary, and we can’t wait for guests to experience Biltmore in a whole new way with stunning visuals and music.”

Butorac described the score as both musically engaging and expressive, noting how it stayed with him long after the recording sessions. “Working with Julian was a real pleasure,” he said. “The score was evocative and atmospheric — and so catchy that as I was walking around Asheville during the week of recording, I found myself humming the music everywhere I went.”

Produced in collaboration with Klip Collective, Luminere will transform the estate’s gardens and the façade of Biltmore House into a dreamscape of light, imagery, and sound from March 26 through October 18, 2026. For visitor information about Luminere, including ticket details, visit biltmore.com/luminere.