By Nicole Ward Beckley  

When Mountaine Jonas moved to Asheville in 1995, he brought a long-nurtured appreciation for the arts — especially music. While growing up, classical music was a constant presence in his childhood home. His public-school education included music classes, and he also learned to play the clarinet, which he still plays.

“Whenever I play, I think about my father, who sacrificed so much to drive me to clarinet lessons,” Mountaine said. “He told me in later years that it was a really big deal to him, that it was difficult, but it was a priority for him to do that for me.”

Early on after moving to western North Carolina, Mountaine became involved with the Asheville Symphony in many ways. He was the Symphony’s first Director of Development, launched its first planned giving program, and, by naming the Asheville Symphony in his will, became a founding member of the Legacy Society.

Some loyal Asheville Symphony lovers will remember Mountaine’s enthusiasm while working with Maestro Daniel Meyer in 2009-2013, giving presentations on the lives of featured composers on the day prior to concerts.

“The Asheville Symphony has really come a long way since I moved here,” he said. “It’s just amazing that such a small city can have such a thriving program in classical music. I’m all about helping it thrive.”

Sharing the Love

Since those around him helped ignite his fondness for music, Mountaine feels it’s essential to keep passing the torch to others. One way he puts this into action is by introducing newcomers to Asheville Symphony concerts.

“I brought a friend last season who had never been to a classical concert before,” Mountaine said. “He was overwhelmed with excitement and couldn’t believe what he’d been missing all his life.”

Sharing his love of music with young people is also a priority, and he understands that not everyone has the same access to learning that he had growing up.

“I hope that future generations will still get to enjoy live classical music,” he said. “But I sometimes wonder how that’s going to go, because there’s so much less musical education than there used to be.”

He believes that Asheville is fortunate to have the Symphony fill that role for local youth by acquainting them with the instruments, players, and compositions of orchestral music.

Mountaine played a crucial role in bringing this to life during the Symphony’s Young People’s Concert in April 2025. He served as an actor, playing “Dr. Dissonance,” the evil nemesis of Music Director Darko Butorac’s heroic “Fortissimo” character, for a lively audience of fifth graders from Asheville and Buncombe County Schools.

During the concert, he was moved by how focused the children were during the orchestra’s stirring rendition of Sibelius’ “Finlandia,” and then by the excitement throughout the concert hall when Dr. Dissonance and Fortissimo engaged in a musical battle accompanied by the orchestra’s performance of the “Superman” theme.

“The Symphony’s programs for young people are really important, and I love that so many kids are involved,” said Mountaine. “Through the work of the Asheville Symphony, many hundreds of local kids in Asheville have become aware of playing classical music, and that it’s great fun.

“I think the Symphony is doing everything possible to keep classical music alive for the next generations.”

Something Old, Something New

Mountaine believes that there is always something new to be discovered — even in centuries-old music — and continues to study and further deepen his own appreciation of the art.

“The enjoyment of digging into the classics and how the composers learned from previous generations,” he explained, “and then how each found their own voices in composition — there’s such a rich legacy to that. And I hope that future generations still get to enjoy it all as much as I do.”

When considering the future — his own as well as others’ — he thinks about how his philanthropy can have an impact even beyond his own lifetime through estate planning.

“Part of that,” he said, “is thinking about what I want to be done with some of the resources that are left after my death.”

While his family and close friends are undoubtedly a priority in his planning, he also noted, “The nonprofits that I really care about, and want to see go on past my lifetime, are important for me to have in my will.”

He also encourages others to carefully consider end-of-life planning, while noting that many people find it uncomfortable to do so.

“It’s just so easy; it might just take a few minutes to do it,” he said. “And it’s deeply rewarding to know there’s a plan in place.”

Mountaine’s continued support for the Asheville Symphony, as an annual fund contributor and planned giving donor, helps sustain programs such as Young People’s Concerts, with free admission keeping them accessible for schoolchildren.

Gifts from Mountaine and others like him also enable the Symphony to offer additional musical opportunities to people of all ages — not only through traditional classical concerts, but also through pre-concert talks, acclaimed guest artists, talented orchestra members, and innovative artistic endeavors.

Are you interested in learning how you can support the Asheville Symphony with a planned gift? Let us help you find the right plan for orchestrating your legacy. Contact the Asheville Symphony Development Office by phone at 828-254-7046, email development@ashevillesymphony.org, or visit our planned giving webpage.